The annual observance, held every September 28, seeks to raise awareness of rabies, promote vaccination of animals and educate communities on how to prevent the disease.
This year’s national event was held in Bisate Sector, Musanze District, an area close to Volcanoes National Park.
Among the activities carried out during the event were dog vaccination, spaying and neutering, as well as microchipping to help identify and keep records of the animals.
Uwingabire Claudine, a resident living near Volcanoes National Park, said she was pleased to have her dogs vaccinated.
“I have two dogs, and recently they went after a neighbour as if they wanted to bite them, which could have sparked a dispute. So I was happy that they came to vaccinate them for free,” she told IGIHE.
Prosper Uwingeri, the Chief Park Warden of the Volcanoes National Park, urged residents living near the park to keep their dogs from entering the protected area, particularly for hunting.
He said dogs entering the park could threaten wildlife and also create challenges for conservation and tourism.
“Preventing rabies through a One Health approach will help us protect the park and the different species found there. People living around the park depend on activities such as farming, livestock keeping and access to water, but these activities should not lead to dogs being sent into the park because they can harm wildlife,” Uwingeri said.
“The issue of dogs concerns us. They do not create a good image for tourism when they are released and end up hunting in the forest. We love dogs and want to protect them,” he added.
Nshimiyimana Laslas, Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and Other Parasitic Diseases Unit at RBC, reminded residents that both dogs and cats can transmit rabies.
“Both cats and dogs can transmit rabies. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. We want to eliminate rabies by 2030, and this requires ensuring that no one dies from rabies after being bitten by an infected animal,” he said.
Nshimiyimana called for closer cooperation between the human, animal and environmental health sectors in the fight against rabies, particularly in communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park.
“People who keep dogs at home are the first line of defence against rabies. We should have them vaccinated, keep them properly confined, take good care of them and prevent them from coming into contact with other animals. Releasing them can also expose animals in the park to the disease,” he said.
RBC has reported that 3,227 people were bitten by dogs across Rwanda in 2025.Rwanda has marked World Rabies Day amid concerns over the 3,227 dog-bite cases recorded in 2025.
NASA also announced plans to exercise options for a fifth and sixth Starliner flight to and from the ISS, and said it will work with Boeing and United Launch Alliance to certify the Vulcan rocket for Starliner crew transportation after the final flight of the Atlas V rocket.
The uncrewed Starliner-1 will serve as an engineering evaluation mission to validate improvements made to the spacecraft, verify improved thermal environments, obtain performance data needed for system qualification and identify residual risks ahead of crewed missions, according to NASA.
The agency will use data from Starliner-1 to continue implementing corrective actions identified by its Program Investigation Team and complete the testing and certification required for crewed flight, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, adding that the current plan is to return astronauts to space on Starliner-2 by 2028.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launched in June 2024 on its first crewed flight test, carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, and docked with the ISS. During the flight, some of the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters did not perform as expected, and helium leaks were detected.
NASA ultimately decided to return Starliner to Earth uncrewed, while the two astronauts later returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in March 2025.
In February, NASA released findings from its Program Investigation Team into the 2024 crewed flight test. The investigation identified 61 recommendations for NASA.
Based on the findings, Boeing has made thermal modifications to Starliner’s service module, which NASA will evaluate on Starliner-1. NASA and Boeing also have jointly decided to implement an additional thruster valve design modification to support spacecraft certification and future crewed flights.
Following Starliner-1, NASA and Boeing will complete the service module thruster valve design modification. Boeing will also implement other improvements, including installing new crew module thrusters and batteries, as well as making minor modifications to the parachute system to improve performance and reliability, NASA said.
NASA said Monday it plans to conduct an uncrewed Starliner-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as December this year
“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING! Axios’ story, like most others, is a HOAX,” Trump wrote on social media.
Trump demands Axios “IMMEDIATELY” withdraw the story.
The Axios story came after Trump rejected an Iran-proposed ceasefire deal over the weekend.
Iran’s proposed peace deal demands a suspension of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Iran reopening the rest of the strait and resuming talks over its nuclear program, local media reported.
In response to Trump’s rejection of its peace proposal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that it is “up to President Trump to choose” between diplomacy and continuing the war.
“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed. We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war,” Araghchi said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied a media report that his administration had offered Iran sanctions relief.
The story of Maranatha Teenager’s Organization did not begin in January 2021. For its president, Kasine Marie Grace, the roots of the organization go much further back, to her childhood in Rwanda, her arrival in Belgium, her academic and professional journey, and the experiences that shaped her desire to help others.
A dream born in childhood
Since childhood, Kasine says she has been particularly sensitive to the suffering of others, especially children.
She remembers witnessing, while growing up in Rwanda, the difficulties faced by some children living in blended families. Some situations of mistreatment deeply affected her.
At the time, she had a simple dream: when she grew up, she would create an orphanage to welcome and protect children experiencing hardship.
Over the years, that dream did not disappear. It simply took a different form.
Today, rather than creating the orphanage she imagined as a child, Kasine has chosen to build a space for listening, guidance and support, primarily for young people and families settling in Belgium.
From the migration experience to commitment
Her own journey also played a decisive role in the creation of Maranatha.
Kasine arrived in Belgium while she was in her fourth year of secondary school. She therefore experienced firsthand the challenges of settling in a new country: adapting to a different culture and language, a different school system, new social codes and relationships, and gradually finding her place.
This experience helped her understand that adolescence is already an important period of transition, and that it can become even more challenging when combined with migration.
“A young person arriving in a new country may have abilities, dreams and a genuine desire to succeed, while still needing someone to listen to them, guide them, encourage them and show them that moving forward is possible,” she explains.
This experience is also reflected in the word “Teenager’s”, which is directly connected to young people and this important stage of life.
Kasine Marie Grace during an interview with IGIHE
Why “Maranatha”?
The name Maranatha also has its roots in an experience Kasine had during her youth in Rwanda.
She remembers a choir of secondary-school students at Kabusunzu Secondary School in Kigali, known as the Maranatha Choir. Despite having limited resources and having to balance their studies with other daily responsibilities, the young people managed to produce a music video album.
What particularly impressed her was not only the result they achieved, but their motivation, determination and ability to encourage one another to complete their project.
The experience left her with an important conviction: young people are not simply individuals who need help. They are also capable of generating ideas and possess talents, energy and abilities that sometimes simply need to be encouraged and supported.
For her, the name Maranatha therefore represents motivation, solidarity, mutual encouragement and the ability to turn an idea into a concrete project.
Two areas of training supporting her vision
Her academic background also helped shape her approach.
After arriving in Belgium, Kasine continued her education and trained as a social worker before obtaining a master’s degree in engineering and project management in December 2020.
These two fields, she believes, complement each other.
Her social work training taught her to consider a person as a whole: their difficulties, needs, resources, environment and the opportunities available to them.
Project management, meanwhile, gave her the tools to turn an idea into action, set objectives, mobilize resources and develop concrete solutions.
This combination has become one of the foundations of Maranatha’s approach.
Kasine Marie Grace has combined her training in social work and project management to shape the approach of Maranatha Teenager’s Organization.
Listening before looking for solutions
For Kasine, supporting someone does not simply mean providing an immediate answer to their problem.
She often uses the image of a “problem tree”: the visible problem is only what appears on the surface. Behind it may lie deeper causes.
For example, a young person who cannot find employment may be facing a language barrier, a lack of training, limited professional networks, administrative difficulties, family challenges or financial problems.
The organization therefore seeks to understand the person’s situation as a whole.
Its approach is based on several steps: listening, understanding, identifying the underlying causes, finding available resources, developing solutions together and supporting their implementation, with the ultimate goal of gradually promoting autonomy.
For the president of Maranatha, helping does not mean doing things on someone’s behalf. It means accompanying them until they are progressively able to move forward independently.
From social support to autonomy
The organization also seeks to go beyond immediate assistance.
A person may need support to find a school, housing or employment, resolve an administrative issue or access certain services. Once a certain level of stability has been achieved, however, it becomes possible to think about their professional plans and long-term autonomy.
Kasine also envisions developing collective projects or cooperatives in which several people can pool their skills, experience and resources.
The goal is to gradually transform support into the ability to take action and build one’s own future.
An organization built with limited resources
When Maranatha Teenager’s Organization was officially established in January 2021, it did not have significant financial resources.
The project began with limited means but strong determination.
There were lessons to learn, solutions to find, people to convince, activities to organize and challenges to overcome, including moments of doubt.
Five years after its creation, the organization continues its work.
For Kasine, this continuity is itself an important achievement. In her view, it demonstrates that a project can start modestly and develop through perseverance, commitment and the support of others.
The president also emphasizes the important role played by those around her.
She particularly pays tribute to her elder sister, whom she describes as someone who supported her from childhood, as well as her husband, children, volunteers, friends and many others who have contributed to the organization’s activities.
Their support gradually transformed an individual initiative into a collective project.
“What started as my personal project has become a collective story,” Kasine says.
Kasine Marie Grace has said the dream she had as a child has taken a different form through Maranatha Teenager’s Organization.
An inauguration designed by and for young people
A new chapter is now being prepared: the official inauguration of Maranatha Teenager’s Organization, scheduled for 2027.
The event will have a particular feature: its activities will be led by young people from different nationalities.
For Kasine, this choice directly reflects the philosophy of the organization.
Young people should not be seen only as beneficiaries. They should also be active participants in the project, able to propose ideas, take on responsibilities, develop their talents and contribute to shaping their own future.
Diversity will also be at the heart of the event. The organization hopes to bring together young people from different backgrounds so they can share their experiences, cultures, talents and aspirations.
For its president, differences in origin should not prevent young people from building something together.
A call for collective engagement
As the inauguration approaches, Kasine Marie Grace is calling on the diaspora and everyone who wishes to contribute to the initiative.
She is seeking their support, ideas, commitment and participation in order to properly prepare for the event.
For her, supporting young people is a collective responsibility.
Helping young people integrate, build their future and develop their abilities also contributes to the development of communities and helps maintain connections with countries of origin.
The 2027 inauguration is therefore intended to be more than an official ceremony. It is expected to mark the transition from the organization’s first years of development to a new phase in the growth of Maranatha.
A dream that took a different form
Looking back at her journey, Kasine believes that the dream she had as a child has never truly disappeared.
She may not be building the orphanage she once imagined, but she has chosen, together with others, to create a space where young people can be heard, guided, supported and encouraged to build their own futures.
Maranatha Teenager’s Organization therefore carries a personal story that has become a collective one: a childhood dream shaped by a migration experience, strengthened through academic training and transformed into an initiative dedicated to young people.
And for Kasine, the story of Maranatha is only just beginning.
Among those they have identified as playing a role in enforcing these practices is Mukandutiye Angelina, a former senior FDLR figure who, according to their accounts, was responsible for monitoring the lives of women and girls within the group.
The testimonies have come from Rwandan women who were abducted by the FDLR and taken to its bases in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Some later escaped or returned to Rwanda and underwent reintegration programmes at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre in Musanze District.
Retired Corporal Mujawayesu Laurence, who was abducted in 1997 at the age of 14, said women in the group were not expected to become pregnant.
“When a girl became pregnant, she was either killed or forced to terminate the pregnancy,” she said. “Many girls died because they refused to let men sexually assault them.”
Mujawayesu, who escaped the FDLR in 2003, also alleged that women who resisted forced abortions were subjected to extreme violence.
“There were those who died because they refused to have their pregnancies terminated. They were shot, while others were cut open with knives in front of others as a warning,” she said.
Another former FDLR member, identified as Mutesi (not real name), said women who became pregnant were subjected to forced abortions.
“They did not allow us to become pregnant. If you became pregnant, they would cut you open while you were still alive, remove the baby and kill it separately,” she said.
Umwali (name changed), a 27-year-old Rwandan woman who was born in Walikale, said she herself became pregnant while under FDLR control. She said she was involved in intelligence activities and was therefore expected to remain available for missions.
“Mukandutiye Angelina was the one who gave us the pills to terminate pregnancies because no soldier was supposed to work while pregnant or carrying a child,” Umwali said.
She said the man who had impregnated her was subsequently killed.
Umulisa, 36, another former FDLR member, said Mukandutiye was responsible for monitoring the welfare of women and girls, including their use of contraceptives.
“She told us that we were not supposed to give birth in Congo because it was not allowed,” Umulisa said.
Umulisa said Mukandutiye downplayed the sexual abuse by presenting it as a normal obligation that women and girls were expected to accept from men.
“She did not call it sexual abuse. She said it was something a woman was expected to accept from men,” Umulisa said.
Former members also accused Mukandutiye of selecting some girls and taking them to senior male members of the group, after which she would ensure they used contraceptives.
Mukandutiye’s involvement with armed groups in eastern Congo came after she fled Rwanda in 1994. Before that, she had worked as a teacher and served as an education inspector in Nyarugenge, Kigali, from 1986 to 1994.
After joining the FDLR, she became one of its senior figures. Between 2016 and 2017, following a split within the group, she joined the CNRD-Ubwiyunge led by Wilson Irategeka, where she served as development commissioner.
She and other members of the group were later captured in South Kivu and transferred to Rwanda in 2019.
Mukandutiye had already been sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by Gacaca courts in 2008 for her role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Following her return to Rwanda, she was also prosecuted in a terrorism case involving 21 defendants, including Nsabimana Callixte, known as Sankara, and Paul Rusesabagina, over attacks attributed to the MRCD/FLN.
In 2021, the Kigali High Court sentenced her to five years in prison in that case. The Court of Appeal increased the sentence to 20 years in April 2022.
Mukandutiye Angelina is serving prison sentence in Rwanda over role in Genocide against the Tutsi and FDLR attacks.
Figures contained in a report by the Ebola response team released on September 25 show that 56 new cases were recorded on September 24, down from 70 the previous day. This represents a 20% decline, although health authorities say challenges remain in containing the outbreak.
The decline was most notable in North Kivu, where new cases fell from 31 to 17 in 24 hours. In Ituri, however, cases increased from 31 to 35. The province accounts for 76.4% of all recorded infections. Haut-Uélé recorded three new cases, while Bas-Uélé reported one.
The report said 2,001 people have recovered, including 35 who were discharged on September 24, while 848 others remain in isolation. Of the 62 health zones that have recorded at least one case, 56 across six provinces still have active cases.
Despite the decline in new infections, many people continue to die outside Ebola treatment facilities. Of the 34 deaths recorded in the 24-hour period, 23 occurred in communities, including nine in Mandima, Ituri, and seven in Beni, North Kivu. Beni also recorded 12 of the 17 new cases reported in North Kivu.
Contact tracing has also declined, with coverage falling from 83.4% to 79.2% in one day. In Tshopo, the rate has dropped to 34.8%, raising concerns that some infections may not be detected early.
The Ebola response is also facing shortages of supplies, delays in vaccination and inadequate treatment facilities. In North Kivu, 114 patients are still being treated in facilities that do not meet required standards. In Bunia, 135 people were vaccinated within 24 hours, against a daily target of 300.
Health authorities have called for increased surveillance along the DRC-South Sudan border and greater preparedness in provinces along the Congo River to prevent further spread of the outbreak.
The announcement follows the successful ACCS 2026 held in Livingstone, Zambia, from 23–25 September 2026. Ethiopia is scheduled to host the 2027 edition, ahead of Rwanda in 2028.
Rwanda was well represented at ACCS 2026 by the Marketing Society of Rwanda (MSR), Rwanda Convention Bureau, ICT Chamber, and representatives of the supply chain and procurement profession.
The delegation demonstrated Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening collaboration across marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement in support of Africa’s commercial transformation.
Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Moses Kazoora, President of the Marketing Society of Rwanda, said: “Securing the opportunity to host ACCS 2028 is a proud moment for Rwanda and its professional community. We commend the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Convention Bureau, for leading this successful bid, and appreciate the collaboration of our partners across marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement.
“Hosting ACCS 2028 presents an important opportunity to showcase Rwanda’s capabilities, strengthen professional networks, promote innovation and create meaningful partnerships across Africa. MSR looks forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver a successful summit that advances professional excellence and contributes to Rwanda’s business and economic development.”
ACCS 2028 is expected to bring together professionals and stakeholders from the marketing, communications, ICT, supply chain, creative industries and business sectors across Africa for knowledge exchange, networking, innovation and strategic partnerships.
MSR calls upon industry stakeholders, professional associations, private-sector organizations, government, institutions and development partners to support the preparations and successful delivery of ACCS 2028, ensuring a meaningful and impactful summit for Rwanda and the continent.
The Marketing Society of Rwanda is the national professional association dedicated to advancing marketing excellence, professional development, industry collaboration and the promotion of best practices in Rwanda’s marketing profession.
MSR works with government, private-sector institutions and regional and international partners to strengthen the marketing profession and contribute to Rwanda’s business and economic development.
Rwanda has been selected to host ACCS 2028 following a successful summit in Livingstone, Zambia.Moses Kazoora, President of the Marketing Society of Rwanda, has described the opportunity to host ACCS 2028 as a proud moment for Rwanda.The Rwanda delegation has brought together representatives from marketing, ICT, supply chain and procurement at ACCS 2026.
In a message posted on X on September 28, 2026, Bisimwa said the decision sends a worrying message about the conduct of authorities in Kinshasa.
“The reinstatement of Gen Sylvain Ekenge as spokesperson for the armed forces of the Kinshasa government, after a long period of silence over discriminatory remarks targeting Tutsi women, is a worrying sign that the authorities are determined to continue along the same path,” Bisimwa said.
He said no explanation had been provided on how the authorities addressed the remarks Ekenge made on state television or what measures had been taken to prevent similar statements from being repeated.
“No explanation has been given to help understand how the authorities in Kinshasa addressed these remarks or what measures are in place to prevent their repetition. Instead, this decision shows that hate speech is being given space within state institutions,” he said.
Bisimwa added that when a state representative targets citizens based on ethnicity, it undermines public trust in national institutions and affects relations between communities.
“We condemn the reinstatement of this person who spreads hate, and we reiterate our opposition to the policy of persecuting and marginalising people based on ethnicity,” he said.
Bisimwa said AFC/M23 supports peaceful relations among people of different ethnic backgrounds, with respect for the dignity of every individual.
Gen Maj Ekenge was temporarily suspended in late 2025 after remarks he made on state broadcaster RTNC on December 27. At the time, he warned Congolese men against marrying Tutsi women and made remarks targeting them based on their ethnicity.
FARDC distanced itself from the comments, saying they did not represent the position of the army or the government, although subsequent developments pointed to a different course.
While Ekenge was suspended, FARDC spokesperson duties were temporarily assigned to its deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Mak Hazukay Mongba.
Reports of Ekenge’s return to the position emerged after he signed a FARDC statement concerning a plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, on September 25, 2026.
FARDC has not yet explained the reasons for his reinstatement.
AFC/M23 has condemned Gen Ekenge’s reinstatement as FARDC spokesperson.
The consensus was reached during a tea chat at the White House attended by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, and Trump and his wife, Melania Trump.
Xi said the trip to Washington was his first state visit to the United States in 11 years.
During the visit, the two sides added new substance to the vision for the China-U.S. relationship, and agreed to jointly build a constructive relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity, Xi said.
The two sides also achieved mutually beneficial outcomes in the economic and trade fields, which will be welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community, he added.
Stressing that the future of China-U.S. relations is bright, Xi said that it reflects the trend of history.
The road to a bright future is often winding, with difficulties and challenges bound to arise along the way, Xi said, adding that it is in line with the laws governing the development of things.
Xi said he is willing to work with Trump to write a new chapter in the history of China-U.S. relations with the courage and a sense of responsibility to history.
Calling Xi’s state visit to the United States constructive and very successful, Trump said that the two sides held in-depth exchanges on U.S.-China relations and major international and regional issues, achieving positive outcomes that will benefit both countries.
He said he looks forward to maintaining close contact with Xi and jointly guiding the development of U.S.-China relations.
After the tea chat, Xi and Peng, accompanied by Trump and Melania, visited the U.S. National Archives. They walked together into the central hall, where they were briefed on the National Archives and its exhibits.
The archives carry the wisdom of the forebears and offer insights for the future, Xi said, adding that over the past 250 years, the American people have pursued the American Dream and built a prosperous country and a beautiful home on the North American continent.
The Chinese people, inheriting 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, have continued to make new achievements on the new journey toward realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Xi said.
As two distinctive countries, China and the United States have different histories and cultures, social systems and development paths, Xi said.
However, the people of the two countries share the same aspiration for a better life despite the differences, he said.
If the two countries recognize and respect their differences, deepen mutual understanding and learn from each other, seek the biggest common denominator, expand the list of areas for cooperation, and properly manage differences, China-U.S. relations will enjoy steady and sustained growth, Xi said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, together with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, pose for a group photo at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026.Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan have a chat over tea with U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan visit the U.S. National Archives, accompanied by U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, after their tea chat in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 25, 2026.
The two leaders conducted sincere and in-depth exchanges and reached common understanding on many issues, which has added new substance to the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, and provided new strategic guidance for China-U.S. relations.
Putting vision into action
“I am ready to work with you to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relationship on a steady course toward the future,” Xi said at the welcome ceremony at the White House.
Xi’s visit comes less than half a year after Trump’s state visit to China in May, when the two presidents agreed to build a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.
Later at his White House meeting with Trump, Xi called for translating that vision into action and finding the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other.
The two sides need to work toward a relationship featuring cooperation as the mainstay, moderate competition, manageable differences, and promises of peace, Xi said.
Xi noted that China and the United States should, and fully can, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results through practical cooperation, help each other succeed through healthy competition, properly manage differences by seeking common ground while respecting differences, and build peace by fostering mutual trust, so that a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability can better benefit the two peoples and people around the world.
Trump, for his part, said he and Xi are good friends who have maintained in-depth and close communication, and expressed confidence that U.S.-China relations would be handled well under the leadership of the two heads of state.
The meticulous arrangements for Xi’s state visit, down to the details and with care and consideration, reflected the importance Trump attached to Xi’s trip.
After receiving Xi in person at the airport one day earlier, Trump hosted the grand welcome ceremony at the White House.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, watched a performance by the United States Marines in the company of the U.S. presidential couple. The ceremony also featured a military review, with U.S. honor guards from different military services performing traditional drills and playing instrumental music. Multiple combat aircraft flew over the White House in honor of the Chinese and U.S. presidents and their wives.
Following the talks, the two presidential couples met again for the state dinner. Inside, red blossoms and red linens decorated the room, a choice a White House release said reflected the color’s longstanding cultural significance in China.
“In less than half a year, the Chinese and American presidents have exchanged state visits, making history in our bilateral engagement,” Xi said at the state dinner hosted by Trump.
The strongest signal to the world is that the leaders of the world’s two most consequential major countries, though overtly competitive, can meet in harmony and with good spirit, which is the headline achievement, commented U.S. scholar Robert Lawrence Kuhn.
Cooperation goes both ways
From Beijing in May to Washington in September, practical cooperation has remained high on the agenda of China-U.S. interactions.
At the ceremony, Xi called on the two countries to “cooperate with sincerity.”
Xi said the two sides share “deeply intertwined” interests and ample room for cooperation, noting that China-U.S. collaboration “may not solve every problem in the world,” but many would be hard to resolve without it.
During his talks with Trump, Xi said the latest round of trade and economic consultations between the two countries had produced a new joint arrangement, calling it good news for industries and people of both countries, as well as the global economy.
Noting that cooperation is a two-way street, Xi said as long as the two sides uphold the spirit of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, they can find a way out of problems.
The state dinner offered another glimpse of the breadth of economic ties between the two countries. Executives from major U.S. aviation, technology and financial firms were among the guests, including some who had accompanied Trump to Beijing in May, such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Artificial intelligence (AI) was another area discussed by the two leaders.
While China and the United States compete in AI, they have even more reasons to cooperate, Xi said, urging the two major countries in AI to leverage respective strengths rather than guard against each other.
The two sides should keep AI under human control, uphold a human-centered approach and use AI for good, ensuring that it serves human progress, Xi added.
Trump also stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue on AI, calling it the technology that bears on the future of humanity.
Carrying on friendship
At the state dinner, both presidents looked back on the long history of exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties.
Xi recalled how the two peoples stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Japanese militarist aggression more than 80 years ago, and how Ping-Pong Diplomacy reopened the door to bilateral exchanges more than half a century ago.
He also recounted the story of American Ronald Sakolsky, who supported Chinese desert control worker Yin Yuzhen’s tree-planting efforts more than 20 years ago, calling it a shining example of friendly exchanges between the two peoples.
Such exchanges, Xi said, have promoted heart-to-heart communication between our peoples and strengthened public support for China-U.S. friendship and cooperation.
Trump, meanwhile, reviewed the long history of U.S.-China exchanges, pointing to early commercial ties and the exchange of “goods, knowledge, customs and ideas.”
“As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we’ve never gotten along better,” Trump said.
New steps are now being taken to carry that friendship forward.
At the welcome ceremony, Xi announced that two pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, will soon arrive at Zoo Atlanta and meet the American people. He also invited 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchange and study programs over the next five years.
“The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in our people, and its future lies with the young,” Xi said.
In 2023, during his visit to San Francisco, Xi announced a similar initiative inviting 50,000 young Americans to China over five years. That target has already been achieved.
“President Xi announced that he wants to double the number of students over the next five years. That’s very positive, very significant, because I believe that those kinds of exchanges and students going back and forth are very, very important,” said Kenneth Quinn, president emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation.
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to the United States, at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
