Foreign news
China’s Xi Jinping calls for a more targeted response to fight COVID-19
Government leaders from across the world have been calling for more cooperation to fight the COVID-19 crisis
They were speaking on day two of the Paris Peace Forum, the global governance conference, which is being held online this year due to the pandemic.
China’s President Xi Jinping was among the world leaders who spoke about the crisis in a video address.
The coronavirus is still wreaking havoc around the world,” said Xi. “We need to put people and life first, place people’s wellbeing front and center, respect science and make a more targeted and concerted response.
He added: “We need to give full play to the crucial leadership role of the World Health Organization in facilitating a joint response to COVID-19.
“China will continue sharing with others experience in containing the virus and expertise in diagnostic and therapeutics and provide assistance in medical supplies.”
Leaders from countries, including Italy and India, also spoke, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron told the forum he thinks there has been a breakdown in global governance.
“We need more international co-operation at a time when multilateralism has been made more vulnerable,” said Macron.
“You have national powers emerging with national agendas or maybe because collectively we have made multilateralism more vulnerable, precisely because of national interests or disagreements.
“There are so many things that need to be rebuilt because we have never been so interdependent.”
There were also speeches from the leaders of Andorra, San Marino, Gabon and Costa Rica.
The Paris Peace Forum is taking place digitally because France is under a nationwide lockdown.
Someone is admitted to hospital with COVID-19 every 30 seconds and one in every four deaths nationally is now associated with the disease.
The French prime minister held a news conference on Thursday, marking two weeks since a national confinement was reimposed.
“It would be irresponsible to lift, or even lighten, the system for now,” said Jean Castex. “Together with the president, we have decided to keep the rules of confinement unchanged for at least the next two weeks.
He added: “Shops closed under the confinement will therefore remain closed for another fortnight
Foreign news
Pakistan Moves to Deepen Diplomatic, Economic Relations With Nigeria
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has called for deeper diplomatic and economic ties with the Nigerian government to foster development for both countries.
Mr Rana Ihsaan, the Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his working vist to Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
NAN reports that the visiting Coordinator held a closed-door meeting with Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
After the meeting, he said that both both sides had agreed on deepening relations in the areas of trade and commerce, among others.
Ihsaan said that both countries must see the need to accelerate efforts towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
He said that Pakistan had already submitted a draft BTA and was awaiting Nigeria’s response.
According to him, discussions centered on easing visa processes, expanding educational exchanges, and strengthening Cooperation in sectors such as Minerals, Youth training, and Defence were highlighted.
Ihsaan said that Pakistan had already implemented visa-on-arrival for Nigerians at no cost, and urged Nigeria to reciprocate to enhance people-to-people ties.
He stressed the importance of high-level engagements between both nations, describing Nigeria and Pakistan as very similar countries with large populations, youthful demographics, and vast economic potentials.
“Deeper collaboration will unlock opportunities in trade, education and investment, while further solidifying long-standing diplomatic relations,” he said.
He said that aside from visiting the foriegn Minister and other top government officials in Nigeria, he was also in the country to attend the on-going West Africa Beauty Exhibition holding in Lagos.
He described the exhibition as one of the continent’s largest cosmetic fairs, adding that he led a delegation of 19 Pakistani business people exploring Nigeria’s estimated 10 million dollar beauty and cosmetics market.
Ihsaan said that Nigeria was a gateway to Africa, adding that Pakistani products, like cosmetics, Textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Food items and Sports goods were already gaining traction in the country.
He encouraged Pakistani exhibitors to establish offices, Warehouses and logistics partnerships to strengthen their foothold in the Nigerian market.
Ihsaan further addressed concerns from Nigerian businesses on the ease of doing business in Pakistan.
He said that the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan had been supporting Nigerian participants at major exhibitions to achieve the ease of doing business.
“The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as a one-stop platform for Nigerians interested in investing in Pakistan,” he said
Culled from NAN
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