Foreign news
China urges better preservation efforts for ethnic minority cultures
As the lyrics of a popular folk song in China goes, “the brothers and sisters from the 56 ethnic groups belong to the same family.”
China is home to 56 ethnic groups – the majority Han makes up around 91.5 percent of the country’s population along with 55 ethnic minorities, according to 2021 data. Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has been a multi-ethnic region since ancient times and, right now, it consists of over 45 ethnic groups.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, paid a visit to Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning. On Wednesday morning, he watched a show called “Manas”, which is from the Kirgiz ethnic minority at the Museum of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The performances have been inscribed as an intangible cultural heritage.
A cultural heritage like “Manas” is a treasure of both the Kirgizs and the Chinese nation, President Xi said, urging better preservation and promotion efforts.
The president added that the extensive and profound Chinese civilization is composed of outstanding cultures of various ethnic groups.
Xi urges officials to better respond to the needs of the people
While visiting the Guyuanxiang residential community in the Tianshan District on Wednesday morning, Xi urged local officials to put more effort into community-level work to better learn and respond to the needs of the people.
A lot of work must be done by relying on communities, Xi noted, adding that he attaches great importance to the work at the community level.
Xi also called for strengthening Party organizations at the community level and improving services in communities to benefit residents of all ethnic groups.
Xinjiang, a hub in Belt and Road cooperation
As Belt and Road cooperation advances, Xinjiang is no longer a remote corner but a core area and a hub, President Xi pointed out during his Tuesday afternoon inspection in Urumqi International Land Port Area.
Remarkable progress has been made since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, Xi said, telling the staff at the land port area that their work is of great significance.
While acknowledging the progress they have made, Xi encouraged them on to even greater success.
The ‘irreplaceable’ Corps
Xi traveled to Shihezi City on Wednesday afternoon, where he inspected the officials and staff workers at the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a group whose status he called “irreplaceable.”
Speaking to XPCC officials and staff workers, Xi said he was pleased about the great progress made by the XPCC in reform and development, and XPCC officials and staff workers themselves should also be proud. He stressed efforts to make the Corps stronger and more prosperous.
Xi also expressed his hope that XPCC officials and staff workers will carry forward the spirit of the XPCC, continue to work hard, step up reform, and make down-to-earth and persistent efforts to make the XPCC stronger and more prosperous.
During his stay in Shihezi City, Xi also learned about the history of the XPCC in cultivating and guarding the frontier areas, as well as the Corps’ efforts in strengthening its primary-level organizations, developing specialty agriculture, and promoting the integrated development of the Corps and local areas.
Foreign news
NTAC Hails Tinubu; Volunteers Ready to Positively Impact Nigerians
Joel Ajayi
The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has commended President Bola Tinubu for funding the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme.
The Director General (DG) of NTAC , Dr Yusuf Yakub, made the commendation during a ceremony to receive five returning TAC volunteers from Zanzibar, Tanzania on Tuesday in Abuja.
The returning volunteers also expressed readiness to impact knowledge gained from participating in the programme on Nigerians.
TAC is a mechanism for Nigeria’s foreign aid and technical assistance to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries through the use of Nigeria’s abundant trained manpower.
Yakub lauded Tinubu’s visionary leadership and steadfast support for the TAC Scheme.
Welcoming the volunteers who had discharged themselves as worthy ambassadors in Zanzibar, the D-G thanked them for their patriotism, dedication to service and for making Nigeria proud on the international arena.
The NTAC boss highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing, while announcing that certificates of completion will be presented to the volunteers in line with the noble objectives of the service.
He also emphasised the volunteers’ crucial role in passing on the skills and experiences gained in Zanzibar.
He expressed optimism that their efforts would positively impact the lives of Nigerians across the country and shape the expectations and service-delivery of future prospective volunteers.
Earlier speaking, Amb. Zakari Usman, the Director of Programmes for NTAC, expressed gratitude to the D-G for his unwavering support and provision for the volunteers throughout their service period.
He said that the volunteers had so delivered on the mandate of the agency that citizens of Zanzibar did not want them to leave their country.
Popoola Adegoke, the Team Lead and a Mathematics Instructor for the batch of returning volunteers, was full of gratitude to the Federal Government for providing them the opportunity to participate in the scheme.
Adegoke said that Nigeria, was well blessed and had the abundance of both human and natural resources to contribute meaningfully to the development of many countries of the world.
He said that the need to continue the TAC Scheme was not negotiable, owing to its high impact and results.
Mohammed Salisu, a Physicist, said that the experience had broadened his horizon as his orientation during the last 24 months in Zanzibar, especially on the cultural exchange.
He lauded the government for the scheme, saying that Nigeria is seen and perceived to be higher in all ranking, especially in the standard of living and educational system.
He also appealed to the government to sustain the scheme to close the gaps both the educational and professional systems in the African, Caribbean and the Pacific Countries.
NAN
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