At the ceremony on Thursday night, Ndayizigiye Jean Marie Vianney, permanent secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, praised Chinese medical teams for their services. “Whether in hospitals, clinics, or communities, your work embodies resilience, excellence, and selflessness. Your service does not go unnoticed,” he said.
He said that their contribution represents the strong and growing partnership between Rwanda and China, particularly in the health sector, adding that this collaboration has brought skills and knowledge exchange, as well as a lasting impact, “strengthening our shared vision of healthier and more resilient communities.”
Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda Gao Wenqi said the medical teams stand as a powerful testament to the deep bonds between the two peoples, noting that this year, more doctors and nurses have arrived in Rwanda, elevating the bilateral health cooperation to new heights.
Wang Yongxiang, head of the 25th Chinese medical team in Rwanda, said that team members have worked side by side with Rwandan colleagues in clinics, operating rooms, and wards.
Over the past year, the Chinese medical teams have helped build an orthopedic specialty system and a standardized pain management clinic at Kibungo Hospital, and have transferred techniques such as traditional Chinese acupuncture, painless labor, and infection control to local doctors, bringing sustainable benefits to both the local healthcare system and the Rwandan people, Wang said.
Li Junsheng, a member of the 25th Chinese medical team in Rwanda, has participated in several batches and received a special award from the Ministry of Health in grateful recognition of his “11 years of dedicated service to the people of Rwanda.”
According to Han Hongyang, head of the newly arrived 26th Chinese medical team, the team consists of 19 members covering eight clinical departments like surgery, orthopedics, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, nursing, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Since 1982, China has dispatched 26 medical teams to Rwanda, providing daily medical services at Masaka Hospital and Kibungo Hospital.
The move comes after years of regulatory battles over concerns that U.S. user data could be accessed by the Chinese government.
The new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will see American and global investors hold 80.1% of the company, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. Key investors include cloud computing giant Oracle, private equity group Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, each with a 15% share. Additional investors include the Dell Family Office, Vastmere Strategic Investments, Alpha Wave Partners, and several others.
Former TikTok executives Adam Presser and Will Farrell have been appointed CEO and chief security officer, respectively, with TikTok CEO Shou Chew joining the venture’s board.
Under the agreement, TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm will be retrained on U.S. user data and hosted on Oracle’s U.S. cloud infrastructure. The venture will manage U.S. user data, content moderation, and related operations, while ByteDance will continue to oversee revenue-generating activities such as advertising and e-commerce. This separation is intended to meet U.S. regulatory requirements while preserving ByteDance’s intellectual property.
The deal is a significant milestone for TikTok after years of scrutiny. In August 2020, President Donald Trump attempted to ban the app over national security concerns, citing fears that user data could be misused by the Chinese government.
A 2024 law later required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 2025 or face a ban, a provision upheld by the Supreme Court. The deadline was repeatedly extended, with the Biden administration and Trump ultimately agreeing to a joint venture structure.
Trump praised the agreement on social media, describing the new ownership as “Great American Patriots and Investors, the Biggest in the World,” and thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for approving the deal.
This agreement, which follows Trump’s reversal of earlier threats involving tariffs and military action, aims to strengthen U.S. involvement in Arctic security without altering the sovereignty of Greenland. However, specific details of the agreement remain unclear and are still being negotiated.
The announcement was made during the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte discussed Arctic security in the face of perceived threats from Russia and China. Trump described the deal as a “historic opportunity”, saying it would secure long-term U.S. interests in Greenland but did not provide specific details on what the access would entail.
The shift in tone marks a dramatic departure from Trump’s earlier stance, which included rhetoric around tariffs on European countries that opposed U.S. plans regarding Greenland and even talk of potential military strategies to protect American interests. This move brought relief from European allies, with financial markets reacting positively as fears of trade disruption eased.
However, while Trump hailed the deal, Denmark and Greenlandic leaders emphasized that any agreement would have to respect Greenland’s sovereignty. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s Prime Minister, acknowledged the U.S. interest in Arctic security but underscored that Greenland’s autonomy must remain intact. “We are open to cooperation, but the sovereignty of Greenland remains with its people and Denmark,” Nielsen said.
Officials from the European Union also expressed the need for clear agreements that respect Greenland’s territorial integrity. One EU diplomat mentioned, “Cooperation on Arctic security is important, but it must be done transparently, respecting international law.”
The framework agreement is still in the early stages, and while Trump spoke of an agreement being negotiated, much of the specifics remain undefined. Diplomats have described it as a framework for future discussions rather than a concrete agreement.
Under existing arrangements since 1951, the U.S. has had military access to Greenland, with Denmark’s consent, and the new discussions aim to modernize that agreement to better address current geopolitical dynamics.
Some European leaders, while welcoming the shift away from tariffs, have raised concerns about the broader impact on transatlantic relations. “While the easing of tensions over tariffs is positive, there are lingering effects from the previous confrontations that need to be addressed,” said one senior EU official.
In Greenland, reactions have been mixed. Some residents see potential benefits from increased cooperation, especially in terms of security and infrastructure development, while others are more cautious about the expansion of U.S. access.
“It’s hard to know what to expect,” said a pensioner from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. “This new direction seems uncertain.”
Against this backdrop, the vision articulated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in multiple past speeches stands out, offering a clear and consistent compass for global economic governance, one that underscores openness and justice as fundamental anchors for stability and growth.
Translating that vision into concrete actions, China has stepped up development-oriented cooperation with other Global South countries, aligning with their shared concerns amid rising uncertainties and reinforcing calls for a more inclusive and predictable world economic order.
{{Unilateralism exacts heavy toll}}
Indeed, global economic growth faces significant headwinds as escalating unilateralism and protectionist measures dampen international trade and investment flows. Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s chief economist, warned that the world economy is set to grow more slowly in the coming years than it did even in the troubled 1990s.
A significant factor behind this slowdown is a new round of tariffs and trade restrictions rolled out by Washington over the past year. As these measures accumulated, the average U.S. import tariff surged from 2.4 percent in early 2025 to nearly 18 percent — the highest level since the 1930s.
Such arbitrary tariffs are exacting a heavy toll. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), U.S. growth is expected to slow to 1.8 percent in 2025 and 1.5 percent in 2026, down from an average of 2.5 percent between 2015 and 2019. In Europe, U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles have squeezed supply chains and weakened competitiveness, prompting firms to delay investment, with the UNCTAD forecasting EU growth at just 1.3 percent in 2025.
Furthermore, Washington has wielded tariffs as a tool of geopolitical coercion, not least by threatening to impose punitive tariffs on countries that do not support the U.S. plan to “obtain” Greenland.
The weaponization of U.S. financial tools and rising unilateralism have destabilized global markets, severely constraining the strategic autonomy of developing states, Herman Tiu Laurel, president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, a Manila-based think tank, told Xinhua.
World leaders have voiced opposition to such unilateral actions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said, “Imposing new sanctions today would be a mistake,” while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has warned against global trade being weaponised against weaker countries.
In a world fracturing along economic faultlines, Xi offered a clear compass. “Countries cannot thrive without an international environment of open cooperation, and no country can afford to retreat into self-imposed isolation,” he reminded global audiences.
Addressing the 2025 Virtual BRICS Summit, he reinforced the point: “Economic globalization is an irresistible trend of history.”
{{China’s approach}}
China’s approach to the global economy, as Xi observed, has consistently emphasized openness, cooperation and a long-term perspective on economic globalization.
“Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from,” Xi said in his 2017 WEF speech, warning that attempts to cut off the flows of capital, technology and people would only run counter to economic reality.
In July 2025, he told a group of new ambassadors to China that China will steadfastly expand high-standard opening up and share the benefit of its supersized market, so that the country’s advancement will bring new opportunities for other countries and inject greater certainty into global economic growth.
“China’s emphasis on openness, inclusiveness, and fairness speaks directly to the core aspirations of developing countries, which have long sought a global economic system that enables growth rather than constrains it,” Lewis Ndichu, director of research at the Nairobi-based Centre for China Africa Policy, told Xinhua.
“For many in the Global South, openness is not about unfettered liberalization but about meaningful access to markets, technology and finance on equitable terms. China’s proposals resonate because they recognize this distinction and place development at the center of globalization,” he said.
Amid evolving global dynamics, China has been resolutely committed to reform and opening-up. The launch of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) in December 2025 exemplifies China’s push for high-standard opening up, with expanded zero-tariff coverage and more market-oriented, business-friendly rules facilitating freer flows of goods.
During a trip to Hainan, Xi described the FTP as a landmark move reflecting China’s commitment to unwaveringly expand high-standard opening-up and promote an open world economy.
Hainan should play a leading role in advancing high-standard opening up through strengthening coordinated development with the neighboring Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and deeply integrating into the Belt and Road cooperation, he added.
Thanks to its strategic location, the Hainan FTP is expected to serve as a new platform for international engagements in various sectors — from tourism and modern services to high-tech industries and agriculture — benefiting ASEAN countries in particular, said Christine Susanna Tjhin, director of strategic communication and research at Indonesia’s Gentala Institute.
{{Fairer economic order}}
Amidst global economic storms, Global South countries bear the brunt of the economic squeeze, a fact crystallized in a recent World Bank finding: by the end of 2025, nearly all advanced economies had seen per capita incomes rise above their 2019 levels, while about one in four developing economies remained below pre-pandemic income levels.
“Rising uncertainty and geopolitical fragmentation, alongside slower growth, are currently the most worrying challenges for the global economy, especially for developing countries that depend on open trade and stable investment flows,” Deni Friawan, an economic researcher at the Jakarta-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Xinhua.
As a result, more developing countries are increasingly calling for fairer participation in economic globalization.
In December 2024, Xi held a meeting with the leaders of major international economic organizations, reaffirmed China’s commitment to collaborative global progress: “China is ready to work with the major international economic organizations to practice multilateralism, promote international cooperation and support the development of Global South countries, so as to advance an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and build a just world of common development.”
“Global South economies require a balanced international environment that combines openness, stability, and access to affordable financing,” said Asif Javed, associate research fellow at Pakistan’s Sustainable Development Policy Institute. “Trade and investment should be fair and inclusive so that developing countries may integrate into global value chains.”
This growing chorus for partnership is now materializing in the economic realm. The expansion of trade and supply chain cooperation under the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 framework and the steady implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area both underscored a growing willingness among emerging economies to seek stability through more coordinated economic engagement.
“There is a clear convergence between President Xi’s emphasis on dialogue-based governance and the Global South’s aspiration for a more balanced and cooperative global economic order,” Alok Kumar Pathak, associate fellow at the BRICS Institute India, told Xinhua.
That convergence, observers noted, is increasingly reflected in projects under various initiatives. In Africa alone, China has helped build and upgrade over 10,000 km of railways, nearly 100,000 km of roads, while rolling out more than 200,000 km of fiber-optic cable, supporting industrialization and regional connectivity.
The Chinese-built Magufuli Bridge across Lake Victoria in Tanzania was inaugurated in June 2025, marking another landmark project under the Belt and Road Initiative. As the longest bridge in East and Central Africa, it not only improves local transportation but also enhances connectivity with neighboring countries. The bridge stands as a symbol of Tanzania’s self-reliance and a catalyst for regional development, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at the inauguration ceremony.
On top of infrastructure, China’s growing role in technology transfer and digitalization is reshaping development possibilities, said Ndichu. “Its engagement increasingly emphasizes capacity building, skills development, and value-chain integration rather than simple resource extraction.”
“China functions as both a stabilizing anchor and a key driver of industrial upgrading across the Global South,” said Herman Tiu Laurel.
“By prioritizing infrastructure development and technological innovation, China offers developing countries the practical means to build sustainable growth and achieve genuine economic autonomy,” he said.
Ismael Buchanan, senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Rwanda, said China’s emphasis on inclusiveness aligns with the desire to ensure that the benefits of globalization are shared more broadly, rather than concentrated in a few advanced economies.
“China has offered additional development options for Global South countries. This engagement complements existing international efforts and contributes to a more diversified and balanced global economic system,” he added.
Speaking before the U.S. Congressional Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on Thursday, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mathilde Mukantabana, underlined that Rwanda’s defensive measures are conditional, time-bound, and directly linked to the verified neutralisation of the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR).
“The defensive measures we have put in place will adjust only as the level of threat reduces,” Ambassador Mukantabana said in her statement. “Rwanda commits to a phased, simultaneous, and independently verified drawdown of its security coordination measures in direct proportion to FDLR disarmament milestones.”
The ambassador’s testimony highlighted the persistent threat posed by the FDLR, a militia formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The group has operated across eastern DRC for more than three decades, carrying out atrocities against civilians and maintaining ties with the Congolese military.
The hearing focused on the implementation of the Washington Accords, signed on December 4, 2025. The agreement, brokered with U.S. leadership alongside Qatar’s mediation, aims to establish lasting peace, security, and economic integration between Rwanda and the DRC.
State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Sarah Troutman, representing the Trump administration, underscored U.S. monitoring of the agreement. She highlighted the potential for sanctions in case of violations and stressed the importance of neutralising the FDLR threat.
FDLR militia is “a legitimate threat” to Rwanda and “they cannot be allowed to operate in eastern DRC”, said Troutman.
Ambassador Mukantabana provided historical context, recalling the Abacengezi insurgency of the late 1990s, a cross-border genocidal campaign launched by ex-Rwandan armed forces and Interahamwe militia that sought to destabilise Rwanda after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. She emphasised that the lessons of the past underpin Rwanda’s insistence on maintaining defensive measures until credible security assurances are established.
“The memories of genocide survivors, the graves of one million victims, and the documented history of the Abacengezi insurgency, which killed thousands more in the years following 1994, compel us to maintain defensive capabilities until credible security assurances are established, until the threat is gone, once and for all,” Mukantabana said.
The ambassador concluded by reaffirming Rwanda’s readiness to work with the DRC, the United States, the African Union, and other international partners to ensure that the Washington Accords translate into permanent peace and shared prosperity.
Beyond security, the Washington Accords also set a framework for regional economic transformation through the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF). Rwanda aims to expand cross-border trade, develop infrastructure, and create jobs, linking peace and prosperity to verified security measures.
This does not include the personnel of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East who died in the war in Gaza, since they were not deliberately targeted, said the UN Staff Union Standing Committee on the Security and Independence of the International Civil Service.
By nationality, six UN personnel killed were from Bangladesh, five from Sudan, two from South Africa, one each from South Sudan, Uruguay, Tunisia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Palestine, Kenya and Zambia, according to the committee.
The UN Interim Security Force for Abyei was again the deadliest mission for peacekeepers, with six fatalities, followed by the UN peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Central African Republic, with three deaths each.
At least five UN personnel were killed in deliberate attacks in 2024, and at least 11 in 2023, said the committee.
The Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that the Somali National Army’s special forces, backed by Jubaland security forces and international partners, also repelled the attack on the military base on the strategic island of Kuday.
“Security in Kuday and its surrounding areas is now fully under the control of the Somali National Army, which remains on full alert and continues stabilization operations to prevent any residual threats,” the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The ministry said military vehicles and weapons abandoned by the fleeing militants involved in the suicide-style attack were seized.
Residents said the assault began in the early hours of Wednesday and lasted 24 hours, starting with explosions before direct clashes between government troops and the militants.
Al-Shabaab militants claimed to have killed 113 soldiers, wounded 47 others, and captured 17 soldiers after taking control of the area.
The latest joint operation came as Somali security forces have been ramping up offensives against al-Shabaab militants across Somalia in the recent past.
Local soldiers, backed by international partners, have been conducting joint operations in central and southern regions as government forces move to gain a foothold.
The memorial events, held across the country on Thursday, reflected a moment of collective reflection after one of Australia’s worst mass shootings in decades.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed a large gathering at the Sydney Opera House, expressing profound sorrow for the government’s inability to prevent the attack and offering condolences to the victims’ families.
He acknowledged the deep pain of the Jewish community, which was specifically targeted during a celebration of the Hanukkah festival when the shooting occurred in December 2025. Flags were flown at half‑mast across Australia, and a national minute of silence was observed in the evening as part of the commemorations.
“This is a place where nothing should break except for the waves. But a lot broke that night. On this National Day of Mourning, we wrap our arms around the Jewish community… we reaffirm our national determination for light to triumph over darkness,” the PM stated.
The Bondi Beach attack, which took place on December 14, 2025, was carried out by a father and son who authorities say were inspired by Islamic State ideology, and it resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to dozens more. The government has officially labelled the incident a terrorist act motivated by antisemitism.
Across the nation, memorial events included candle‑lighting ceremonies, prayers and speeches from lawmakers and community leaders. Major landmarks and stadiums were lit up in tribute, and sporting events such as the Australian Open paused to observe the minute of silence. Religious services and interfaith vigils brought together people of different faiths in solidarity, reinforcing messages of unity and peace.
In the months since the attack, Australia’s Parliament has taken steps to address the issues highlighted by the tragedy. New legislation has been passed to tighten gun licensing checks and enhance the legal framework for prosecuting hate speech, as part of broader efforts to prevent similar attacks in the future.
The national day of mourning was designed not only to pay tribute to the victims but also to unite Australians in confronting violence and discrimination. Political leaders, survivors’ families and communities used the day to emphasise shared values of tolerance, resilience and compassion in the face of such a devastating event.
The market will be located in the Masoro industrial zone, covering 10.8 hectares, and is expected to play a pivotal role in Rwanda’s agricultural sector. NAEB confirmed that 99% of the compensation process for land acquisition has been completed, clearing the way for construction to begin.
Claude Bizimana, Chief Executive Officer of NAEB, revealed this on Thursday during a meeting with Parliament’s Committee on Governance and Gender Affairs, where he presented NAEB’s 2024/2025 report and outlined plans for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
In his presentation, Bizimana highlighted NAEB’s efforts to enhance market efficiency and transparency. He explained that the Kigali Wholesale Market for Fresh Produce (KWMFP) is designed to improve food quality, streamline post-harvest handling, and facilitate better transportation of fruits and vegetables.
The project will be executed in two phases. The first phase will focus on building the market’s core infrastructure, while the second will promote value addition through processing and quality enhancement of produce.
The total cost of $53.4 million will be shared between the Rwandan government and international partners. The government will cover 50% of the cost through a loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development, while the Netherlands will provide the remaining 50% as a grant.
“A new feasibility study estimates the total construction cost at 47.5 million euros (53.4 million USD). The Rwandan government will fund half of this through the OPEC Fund loan, and the Netherlands will provide the remaining half as a grant,” Bizimana explained.
He added that teams from the OPEC Fund and the Netherlands are scheduled to arrive in February to finalise agreements, after which construction will officially commence.
Bizimana also discussed the current challenges facing Kigali’s fruit and vegetable market, including inadequate facilities, inconsistent pricing, and the absence of organised trading systems.
Currently, about 86% of fruits and vegetables sold in Kigali pass through the Nyabugogo Market, known as Kwa Mutangana, which has been criticised for poor sanitation and inefficiency.
“Looking at Kwa Mutangana, it’s clear that the market does not meet the standards required for food security and proper market management,” Bizimana said. “This new market project will help address these issues and bring about positive change.”
The lack of organized market infrastructure has led to significant produce losses, with up to 40% of fruits and vegetables wasted annually due to poor handling and storage. This also poses challenges for Rwandan exporters, who struggle to meet international quality standards.
The new market is expected to reduce these losses by providing improved storage, packaging, and transportation facilities, ensuring that produce maintains its quality throughout the supply chain. It will also support farmers by introducing a transparent pricing system connected to both local and export markets through electronic payment solutions.
Furthermore, the market will encourage value addition by promoting the processing of agricultural products, boosting Rwanda’s export-oriented economy. Modern infrastructure will cater to growing demand for high-quality produce from domestic and international consumers alike.
Bizimana concluded by emphasising that the project will not only benefit Rwanda’s agricultural sector but also contribute to economic growth by creating business opportunities and strengthening trade relationships regionally and internationally.
The event will take place on January 29, 2026, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan.
The primary aim of this festival is to showcase Rwanda’s renowned coffee, which has gained international acclaim, to the Pakistani market.
The event seeks to promote business and investment opportunities in the Rwandan coffee sector.
Rwanda is recognized for producing unique, high-altitude coffee known for its exceptional flavor and quality. The country’s coffee is celebrated globally for its distinct taste and appearance, making it a sought-after product.
The Rwanda Coffee Festival 2026 will bring together a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, Rwanda’s representatives, foreign diplomats, coffee experts, traders, coffee processors, investors, and many others.
The event will feature a range of activities, such as professional coffee preparation demonstrations, a documentary screening that traces the journey of Rwandan coffee from the farm to the cup, and opportunities for Pakistani traders to explore Rwandan coffee exports.
Coffee has become one of Rwanda’s most valuable cash crops, significantly contributing to the country’s economy. In 2025, NAEB reported that the value of Rwanda’s coffee exports exceeded Rwf 216 billion, marking a substantial increase from Rwf 129 billion in 2024.
