Global Pulse

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  • EU nears approval of Ukraine loan after Hungary pipeline row

    EU nears approval of Ukraine loan after Hungary pipeline row

    After months of tense diplomatic gridlock tied to a damaged oil pipeline dispute between Kyiv and Budapest, the European Union has moved a step closer to unblocking a critical 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan package for Ukraine, officials confirmed Wednesday. The bitter standoff between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had held up the much-needed budget support that Ukraine requires to cover its core spending four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

    Diplomatic sources told reporters that Budapest has been granted a 24-hour window to issue its final formal approval, with Hungarian authorities holding out to confirm that Russian crude shipments would resume through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline after Ukraine completed repairs. Earlier this week, Zelenskyy announced that repairs to the section of the pipeline damaged in a Russian strike were finished, and Ukraine restarted pumping oil to Hungary and neighboring Slovakia on Wednesday.

    Hungarian energy major MOL announced in a statement that it expects the first post-repair crude deliveries to reach both Hungary and Slovakia no later than Thursday. Slovakia’s Economy Minister Denisa Sakova echoed that timeline in a Facebook post, noting that the first shipments would arrive in the early hours of Thursday.

    Orbán, a long-standing Kremlin ally who suffered a decisive electoral defeat earlier this month that ended his 16-year hold on power, had refused to drop his opposition to the loan until the pipeline was fully repaired and flows resumed. Hungary and Slovakia, two EU member states that have maintained close energy ties to Russia despite bloc-wide sanctions, had previously accused Kyiv of deliberately delaying repair work to pressure them over their continued imports of Russian energy. Zelenskyy has been open about his opposition to any EU member states purchasing Russian oil and gas, which remain a top source of revenue for Moscow to fund its war effort.

    The resolution of the pipeline dispute has cleared the way for approval of both the loan and a long-stalled 20th package of EU sanctions on Russia, which targets Russia’s energy, banking, and trade sectors. Prior to the breakthrough, EU officials had warned that the approval might not come until Orbán’s pro-EU successor Péter Magyar takes office in May, raising hopes that a new Hungarian government would unlock the funds. The 90-billion-euro loan is expected to begin disbursement to Kyiv in the coming months to cover Ukraine’s growing budget gap, at a time when the United States has cut off most military and economic aid to Ukraine and relaxed sanctions on Russian crude amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

    Zelenskyy reiterated his call for the EU to move forward with new sanctions on Moscow Tuesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump has pulled back pressure on the Kremlin. Even as the loan appears set to move forward, some pro-Kremlin European leaders have remained skeptical. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has repeatedly clashed with both Kyiv and Brussels over policy toward Russia and Ukraine, warned Wednesday that he “would not be surprised if the 90 billion loan were unblocked and then oil supplies were cut off again.”

  • ‘I cried so hard’ – the Kenyan WNBA star who beat US visa heartbreak

    ‘I cried so hard’ – the Kenyan WNBA star who beat US visa heartbreak

    Against all odds, 21-year-old Kenyan basketball prodigy Madina Okot has etched her name into history as the highest-drafted Kenyan player in WNBA history, earning a first-round 13th overall selection by the Atlanta Dream in the April 13 draft held in New York. What makes her fairytale ascent even more extraordinary is that she has reached the pinnacle of women’s professional basketball just six years after picking up a basketball for the very first time.

    Okot’s journey to the WNBA started in humble surroundings, in the western Kenyan town of Mumias, where she grew up as the fifth of eight children. She first found athletic success on the volleyball court at Kakamega County’s Bishop Sulumeti High School, before a life-changing opportunity in 2020 pulled her toward basketball: an invitation to join Kaya Tiwi Secondary, a renowned coastal basketball academy near Mombasa that has spawned many of Kenya’s top basketball talents. “I was almost scared to try basketball at first,” Okot shared in an interview with BBC Sport Africa. “But the second I started playing, I fell in love with the game instantly.”

    Her raw, unpolished talent quickly caught the attention of national selectors, and she worked her way up through Kenya’s youth national team ranks. A breakout performance at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games 3×3 basketball tournament put her on the radar of U.S. college scouts, opening the door for a move stateside. But that next step would test Okot’s mental resilience like never before: she faced four consecutive visa rejections when applying to study and play at Troy University in Alabama and later Eastern Michigan University, a stretch that left her on the brink of walking away from her dream.

    “It was unbelievably tough. There were so many moments I felt like just giving up,” Okot recalled. “After the second, third, and fourth rejections, I cried so hard. I walked out of the interview with a security guard escorting me to my taxi, and I just felt completely defeated.” It was unwavering support from her family and her own quiet determination that kept her going. In a moment that feels straight out of a Hollywood script, Okot finally received her visa approval on her birthday in August 2024. “That was without a doubt the best birthday gift I have ever received,” she said, grinning. “I’m so grateful to my parents and everyone who kept telling me to keep trying.”

    Fifth time lucky, Okot finally made it to the U.S., first joining Mississippi State for the 2024-25 season before transferring to the University of South Carolina last April. This past collegiate season, she dominated the paint, leading her conference in rebounds with an average of 10.6 per game, and was a key anchor for the Gamecocks as they fought their way to the NCAA national championship final in Phoenix earlier this month, where they fell to UCLA in front of nearly 16,000 fans.

    Now, Okot is preparing to make her professional debut with the Atlanta Dream when the new WNBA season tips off on May 8, where she will share the court with star players including two-time All-Star Angel Reese. “I’ve watched Angel play since I was in high school,” Okot said. “I know she’ll be like a big sister to me, and I can’t wait to learn everything from her. My main goal right now is just to keep growing my game and absorb as much as I can from the more experienced players on the team.” She will also have the support of another African player on the roster: Malian center Sika Kone, who is entering her fourth WNBA season.

    Standing 6-foot-6, Okot brings elite size, physicality, and strong defensive instincts to the professional league, and she is under no illusions about the steep learning curve that comes with competing at the sport’s highest level. But beyond her on-court contributions, Okot is acutely aware of the role she can play as a trailblazer for young female athletes across the African continent. “It’s such a huge honor to get to represent everyone back home,” she said. “I just want to show young African women that we belong on every single stage. If you put in the work and keep believing, your dream can come true.”

    Okot is the third Kenyan player ever to be drafted into the WNBA, following Josephine Owino’s third-round selection in 2009 and Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s second-round pick in 2022, making her the highest-ranked draft pick from the East African nation to date. Off the court, the soft-spoken 21-year-old still holds tight to her Kenyan roots: she loves the traditional East African staple ugali, favors the colors pink and white, listens to gospel music, and still can’t quite believe her journey from a small-town volleyball player to a WNBA first-round pick.

    Her breakthrough comes at a time of global growth for women’s sport, but barriers around access to resources and opportunities still remain disproportionately high for female athletes in Africa. For Okot, that makes her story even more important as a message of hope for young girls starting out with limited resources. “You don’t need perfect facilities to start chasing your dream,” she said. “Just stay focused and never stop chasing. I want to be the kind of player that young girls look at and think, ‘If she can do it, I can too.’ Opportunities come when you put in the work — there’s always someone watching, and that’s how dreams come true.”

  • Duterte jurisdiction appeal quashed at ICC

    Duterte jurisdiction appeal quashed at ICC

    In a landmark ruling that clears the way for what would be the first trial of a former Asian head of state at the International Criminal Court, ICC appeals judges have formally dismissed Rodrigo Duterte’s legal challenge to the court’s authority to hear his alleged crimes against humanity case connected to his brutal anti-drug campaign.

    The 81-year-old former Philippine president stands accused of three counts of crimes against humanity, stemming from thousands of extrajudicial killings carried out during his crackdown on illegal drug users and traffickers. The allegations cover two periods of his public service: his tenure as mayor of Davao City from 2013 to 2016, and his term as Philippine president up until March 2019, when the Philippines officially withdrew its membership from the ICC.

    Duterte’s legal team had long argued that the court held no jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed on Philippine soil, arguing that the nation’s exit from the Rome Statute – the ICC’s founding governing treaty – removed all judicial authority over the country. Prosecutors pushed back against this claim, noting that all the alleged abuses occurred while the Philippines remained an active ICC member, and that the court had opened its investigation into Duterte’s campaign well before the nation’s withdrawal took effect.

    An ICC pre-trial chamber first upheld the prosecution’s position in an initial October ruling, prompting Duterte’s defence to file the appeal that was dismissed this week. Presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibañez Carranza confirmed Wednesday that the court rejected all four legal grounds laid out in Duterte’s appeal. With the full appeal thrown out, she added, the defence’s request for the immediate and unconditional discharge of Duterte from the court’s process is now moot.

    Nicholas Kaufman, lead defence counsel for Duterte, noted the outcome came as no surprise. He pointed out that Duterte’s case is the only high-profile matter remaining on the ICC’s active docket, saying that allowing the appeal would have effectively cleared the court’s entire schedule of major cases.

    The ruling now moves the process to the next critical phase: judges are currently weighing whether to confirm the three charges against Duterte, a final procedural step that must be completed before a full trial can begin. If confirmed, the trial will mark a historic first for the ICC, as it would be the first time the court has tried a former head of state from Asia.

    During February pre-trial hearings, prosecutors laid out their core case, arguing Duterte bears direct responsibility for the thousands of deaths that occurred throughout his years-long war on drugs. Defence lawyers countered that there is no conclusive “smoking gun” evidence linking Duterte’s incendiary public rhetoric and threats against drug-related suspects to the actual killings that took place.

    Despite the procedural progress, it remains highly unlikely that Duterte will ever appear in person at the ICC’s The Hague courtroom. The court already granted his request to skip in-person attendance at February’s hearings, with his legal team citing poor mental fitness to participate. Duterte has only appeared once before the court since his initial process began, during a remote videolink initial appearance where observers described him as confused and visibly exhausted. He was also absent for Wednesday’s public reading of the appeal ruling.

  • One-China principle remains widely recognized as countries revoke overflight permits, says spokesperson

    One-China principle remains widely recognized as countries revoke overflight permits, says spokesperson

    A recent diplomatic development has underscored the broad global consensus on the one-China principle, after three African countries withdrew overflight clearances for Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te’s canceled trip to Eswatini, a Chinese mainland spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized at a regular press briefing that the Chinese government greatly values the commitment of the involved nations to upholding the one-China principle. This incident, Zhang noted, offers clear, renewed proof that the one-China principle stands as a fundamental norm governing modern international relations, and a consensus embraced overwhelmingly across the global community. It aligns with the broader trend of the times, the greater good of the international order, and the shared will of most countries, she added. Lai had scheduled a five-day visit to Eswatini, which remains the only African nation that maintains unofficial so-called diplomatic ties with Taiwan, running from Wednesday to Sunday. However, Lai’s own office announced Tuesday that Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar had all revoked prior approvals for Lai’s aircraft to traverse their airspace. Without the required overflight permissions, the planned trip was called off entirely. In responding to unsubstantiated claims from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan that the Chinese mainland had coerced the three African nations into reversing their permits, Zhang dismissed the accusations as baseless rumor-mongering designed to distract from the reality of widespread international recognition of the one-China principle. The DPP’s narrative, analysts note, fails to account for the consistent position of most United Nations member states, which have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle as the foundation for diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

  • Russia says its Africa Corps has freed Russian and Ukrainian citizens abducted in Niger

    Russia says its Africa Corps has freed Russian and Ukrainian citizens abducted in Niger

    LAGOS, NIGERIA – In a targeted special operation carried out on the continent, Russia’s Africa Corps has successfully liberated two foreign nationals who were held captive for months by an al-Qaida-linked armed faction in the Sahel, the Russian Defense Ministry announced publicly this Tuesday.

    The two freed individuals have been formally identified as Oleg Gret, a Russian national working for a Russian geological exploration firm, and Yuri Yurov, a Ukrainian citizen. Both hostages had first appeared in a video released by Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the terrorist group that seized them in an abduction operation in Niger back in July 2024.

    According to the official statement issued by the Russian Defense Ministry, the rescue mission was executed within the borders of the neighboring Republic of Mali, where the hostages were being held after their abduction. “As a result of a special operation conducted by the Africa Corps in the Republic of Mali, employees of a Russian geological exploration company captured in July 2024 in Niger by the terrorist group Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin were freed,” the statement reads.

    The abduction marked a notable security setback for Russia’s expanding influence across the Sahel, a region where Moscow has steadily displaced long-standing Western and European partners in recent years. Russia has strategically capitalized on widespread local discontent with France, the region’s former colonial power, and growing public anxiety over rising insurgent attacks from extremist groups to grow its military and political footprint across the Sahel.

    The Africa Corps, a Russian state-aligned paramilitary formation, was established to take over Moscow’s continental military operations after the restructuring of the infamous Wagner Group, the private mercenary force that previously led Russia’s engagements across Africa.

    Following the successful rescue, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the two freed hostages will be flown to Moscow aboard a Russian military transport plane, where they will receive specialized medical treatment and psychological rehabilitation to address the trauma of their months in captivity.

  • Hobart City Council pulls e-scooters from the street, cites ‘safety, behavioural concerns’ in transition to e-bikes

    Hobart City Council pulls e-scooters from the street, cites ‘safety, behavioural concerns’ in transition to e-bikes

    Hobart, the capital city of Australia’s Tasmania state, is making a major shift to its shared urban mobility network, removing all shared e-scooters from city streets in response to growing public and regulatory concerns over rider safety and irresponsible usage. The Hobart City Council formally announced the policy change on Tuesday, confirming that it will transition its existing shared micromobility program to an e-bike-only model, with plans to open a new tender for smaller, more compact e-bikes designed to fit better within the city’s limited public spaces.

    Currently, Singapore-based mobility operator Beam Mobility holds the contract to run the city’s hire-and-ride shared scooter and e-bike services. Under existing Tasmanian regulations, e-scooter riders are permitted to operate on most footpaths, shared pedestrian-bike paths, dedicated cycling lanes, and public roads with speed limits below 50km/h. Rules also require riders to be at least 16 years old and wear a protective helmet at all times, but consistent noncompliance with these regulations has been a core issue for city officials.

    In an official public statement, the council outlined that persistent regulatory gaps, safety risks, and problematic user behaviour have justified the full removal of e-scooters from the shared program. Top complaints include haphazard and obstructive parking of e-scooters on crowded footpaths, which creates hazards for pedestrians, particularly elderly residents and people with disabilities.

    By contrast, council officials argue e-bikes are a far better fit for Hobart’s urban landscape. “E-bikes, by contrast, are generally used as a transport mode rather than a recreational device, resulting in more predictable and compliant behaviour,” the council’s statement explained. The decision also follows broader national and global mobility trends, where a growing number of cities are prioritizing e-bike-focused shared schemes over mixed e-scooter models, citing e-bikes’ greater versatility, stronger safety profile, and suitability for longer commuter trips.

    The policy change comes after two high-profile traffic incidents involving young micromobility riders in Tasmania in recent months. In December, a 14-year-old girl suffered life-threatening injuries when her e-scooter collided with a passenger car in Risdon Vale, an outer suburban area of Hobart. On New Year’s Eve, a 15-year-old boy from Devonport died after losing control of his e-bike and crashing into a utility pole in the state’s northwest.

    National data underscores the scope of the e-scooter safety crisis: A recent study from the University of Melbourne recorded 37 e-scooter-related deaths across Australia between 2020 and 2025, with one-third of those fatalities involving children under the legal riding age.

    Data from the council’s 15-month pilot program, which ran from December 2024 to February 2026, shows strong overall community demand for low-emission shared mobility options, with an average of 13,300 trips and 16,600 kilometers traveled per month across the network. “The shared micromobility program has demonstrated strong community interest in low emissions, convenient travel options. However, it has become clear that a mixed e-scooter and e-bike hire model is not the best fit for Hobart,” the statement added.

    Ryan Posselt, chair of the council’s transport committee, said the shift to an e-bike-only model is expected to deliver improved public safety outcomes and better integration with Hobart’s existing cycling infrastructure. “E-bikes also support active transport, delivering public health benefits alongside emissions reduction,” he noted. The council will now begin the tender process to select a new operator for the e-bike-only program, with rolling deployment expected to begin later this year.

  • New policies, measures bring reassurance to Taiwan youth

    New policies, measures bring reassurance to Taiwan youth

    A new set of targeted cross-Strait policies released by the Chinese mainland has injected fresh confidence and certainty among young Taiwanese residents building lives and pursuing opportunities across the Taiwan Strait, according to a young Taiwanese participant in a recent cross-Strait exchange forum.

    Speaking to China Daily on the sidelines of the seventh annual forum for social groups led by Taiwan compatriots, Hsu Tao, a young Taiwanese currently based on the mainland, noted that the 10-measure policy package unveiled on April 12, 2026 addresses long-standing priorities for youth exchange and connectivity across the Strait. He emphasized that the new framework will strengthen the sense of security for Taiwan youth developing their careers and lives on the mainland, while deepening the personal bonds that connect communities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    Key provisions of the policy package include the establishment of a formal, institutionalized platform to support sustained two-way exchanges between young people from both sides of the Strait. The new measures also prioritize the full resumption of regular direct cross-Strait passenger flights, a move that will remove long-standing travel barriers that have separated family, friends and professional connections across the Strait in recent years.

    The policy rollout comes as the mainland continues to advance people-centered initiatives to support cross-Strait exchange, address the practical needs of Taiwan residents, and foster closer economic, cultural and social integration across the Taiwan Strait. For young Taiwanese seeking educational, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities on the mainland, the new framework offers clear structural support that reduces uncertainty and opens new pathways for cross-Strait engagement.

  • Lufthansa cuts 20,000 summer flights as fuel prices surge

    Lufthansa cuts 20,000 summer flights as fuel prices surge

    Europe’s aviation sector is facing unprecedented disruption as geopolitical tension in the Middle East sends jet fuel costs soaring, with Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa becoming the latest major airline to announce drastic capacity cuts. On Tuesday, Lufthansa confirmed it will slash 20,000 short-haul flights across its summer schedule, explaining that skyrocketing fuel prices have rendered a large portion of its regional European routes unprofitable.

    The root of the industry-wide crisis traces back to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, which has severely disrupted fuel production and transportation across the Middle East. The Gulf region supplies roughly 50% of all jet fuel imported by Europe, with most of that cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint that Iran has effectively closed in response to US and Israeli military strikes. Energy Intelligence data confirms that the Kuwait-based Al-Zour refinery alone accounts for approximately 10% of Europe’s total jet fuel imports, highlighting how closely European aviation depends on stable Middle Eastern energy infrastructure. Since the conflict escalated, jet fuel prices have already doubled industry-wide.

    Lufthansa is far from alone in grappling with the crisis. Peer airlines including Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines have already implemented temporary flight cuts, while countless other carriers have opted to pass elevated energy costs directly to consumers through widespread ticket price hikes. Industry analysts have issued a stark warning for travelers: as long as the Middle Eastern conflict remains unresolved, further price increases and service disruptions should be expected across global aviation networks.

    In Lufthansa’s case, the flight cuts are part of a broader efficiency push already underway at the carrier. Last week, the airline announced it would accelerate the permanent shutdown of its regional European subsidiary CityLine, a move that will see 27 older aircraft retired permanently. At the time of that announcement, Lufthansa cited not only sharply increased kerosene prices but also mounting operational burdens from ongoing labor disputes as core drivers for the restructuring.

    The first 120 route cuts were rolled out this Tuesday, with services between Lufthansa’s Frankfurt hub to destinations in Poland and Norway among the first to be suspended. Lufthansa emphasized that the cuts are concentrated exclusively on its short-haul European network, and that passengers will retain full access to its global long-haul route network. The restructuring, the airline noted, is designed to operate the remaining network far more efficiently than before, and is projected to cut total jet fuel consumption by approximately 40,000 metric tons over the coming period.

    Last week, the International Energy Agency issued an urgent warning that Europe could face a total jet fuel supply shortage within a matter of weeks if the current disruption continues. However, both the UK government and major European airlines have pushed back on that warning, stating that they have not yet experienced any interruptions to fuel supply chains at this stage.

  • Remains of 12 Chinese martyrs in Korean War returned to homeland from ROK

    Remains of 12 Chinese martyrs in Korean War returned to homeland from ROK

    On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a solemn homecoming concluded for 12 Chinese People’s Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who fell during the 1950–1953 War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, as their remains arrived in Northeast China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) following an official repatriation ceremony.

    A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft, carrying both the 12 sets of remains and 146 personal artifacts belonging to the fallen soldiers, touched down at Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province. In a powerful gesture of national respect, the Y-20B received a ceremonial military escort from four J-20 stealth fighter jets after entering Chinese airspace — a tribute that highlights the nation’s enduring gratitude for the martyrs’ sacrifice.

    This repatriation marks the 14th consecutive handover completed under a collaborative agreement between China and the ROK, a cooperation that first launched in 2014. Across 13 prior handovers, the remains of 1,023 CPV martyrs buried on Korean territory have been returned to their native homeland. Wednesday’s mission also carries historic significance of its own: it is the first time the domestically developed Y-20B transport aircraft has been assigned to this sacred repatriation duty, reflecting China’s ongoing commitment to honoring its fallen service members.

    Decades after the end of the conflict, the handover process remains a point of consistent bilateral cooperation between the two sides, rooted in shared respect for the memory of those who lost their lives in the war. For China, the annual repatriation serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by CPV service members to protect national security and regional peace, and reinforces the nation’s pledge to never forget those who gave their lives in service.

  • China, Africa pledge stronger relationship

    China, Africa pledge stronger relationship

    Against a global backdrop of surging unilateralism and rising protectionist barriers, China and African nations have reaffirmed their longstanding, close diplomatic and economic partnership, making formal pledges to deepen cross-sector cooperation and uphold collective solidarity rooted in the principle of mutual respect. The landmark commitment was announced during the inaugural China-Africa Entrepreneurs Summit, held Tuesday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a gathering that brought together business leaders, policymakers and diplomatic representatives from both sides to chart a new course for bilateral collaboration.”China and Africa form a community of shared future, bonded by consistent mutual support,” stated Jiang Feng, head of China’s mission to the African Union and representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, during his opening address. “China has never wavered in viewing Africa as a sincere friend and a most reliable cooperative partner.”Jiang noted that 2026 marks the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, a development blueprint that prioritizes further expansion of high-standard opening-up policies. This policy direction, he emphasized, creates unprecedented conditions for deeper collaboration between Chinese and African private and public sector enterprises. The decades-long economic partnership between the two sides has already reached historic milestones: China has held the position of Africa’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade volume hitting a new record high of $348 billion in 2025, marking an nearly 18 percent year-on-year increase. Beyond trade, Chinese firms lead as the largest foreign investors and primary infrastructure contractors across dozens of African nations, delivering critical projects in transportation, energy and communications that have expanded connectivity across the continent.With Africa holding untapped development potential and China boasting a complete, competitive industrial chain with strong growth momentum, Jiang pointed out that cooperation opportunities span an incredibly broad range of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, the digital economy, mineral development and financial services. He encouraged enterprises from both sides to leverage existing trade and investment facilitation frameworks, most notably China’s expanding zero-tariff policy, to unlock new collaborative opportunities.As a key measure to remove barriers for African exporters accessing the world’s second-largest consumer market, China will implement full zero-tariff treatment on all product categories from the 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing, a policy set to take effect on May 1. “This policy will pave the way for turning the vast Chinese market into a transformative growth opportunity for high-quality African exports,” Jiang added.Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, who also addressed the opening session, commended China’s longstanding critical role in supporting development and economic transformation across Ethiopia and the entire African continent. He called for expanding cooperation beyond traditional trade and investment to include joint technological research and development that drives local innovation.Speaking to the challenging global context, Selassie noted that the summit convenes at a moment of growing geoeconomic uncertainty, shaped by unrestrained competition for strategic minerals driven by narrow self-interest that often disregards Africa’s long-term sustainable development goals. “Against this reality, China and Africa are demonstrating an exemplary commitment to revitalizing collective, mutually beneficial strategic cooperation,” he said.The Ethiopian president also welcomed China’s new full zero-tariff policy, noting it will accelerate the continent’s export-led growth strategy. “This initiative benefits not only China and Africa; it will make an immense contribution to global trade at a time when the global economy faces severe supply chain disruptions and fragmentation,” he added.AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf reaffirmed the African Union’s unwavering commitment to deepening comprehensive cooperation with China, urging African nations to draw on China’s decades of experience in rapid development and industrialization to advance their own economic agendas.”Africa must learn from the success of China’s development experience,” Youssouf said, adding that modern technological advances now create a unique opening to accelerate the continent’s economic transformation. “It is in this respect that the Chinese development miracle should guide our forward steps.”Amid widespread global economic uncertainty, Youssouf emphasized that consolidating China-Africa cooperation is more essential than ever, and extended the AU’s gratitude to the Chinese government for rolling out the expanded zero-tariff treatment. He also called on Chinese enterprises to increase investment across African markets and partner with local stakeholders to build integrated regional value and supply chains, fostering a mutually beneficial win-win partnership.Song Shangzhe, deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo Bureau, noted that the CIIE has long served as a key gateway for African goods to access Chinese consumers, and the bureau will continue supporting African enterprises to enter the Chinese market and expand their export volumes.”The CIIE embodies China’s sincere commitment to open its market to Africa and the entire world,” Song said. “Over the eight years since its launch, the expo has showcased high-quality African products, driven booming China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and helped African enterprises tap into the enormous consumer demand of the Chinese market.”