President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo has envisioned a future where agriculture plays a pivotal role in shifting the country away from its heavy reliance on oil and toward a more diversified economy.
In an interview with China Media Group (CMG) in early September, Nguesso expressed immense pride in the completion of the No. 1 National Highway, a vital road in the Republic of Congo, emphasizing that it stands as a testament to the close collaboration between Congo and China, rooted in the vision of the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Indeed. I'm glad that you visited this big project. The construction of this road faced unprecedented challenges. Back in colonial times, we would never have been able to complete such a project. Today, as a result of close cooperation between the Republic of Congo and China, we are very proud to have built this road. All of this is based on the blueprint of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said,
When talking about the economic landscape of the Republic of Congo, where oil remains a cornerstone industry, he outlined a plan to develop agriculture by harnessing the untapped potential of the country's abundant arable land, water resources, and sunlight.
"I want to say that the Republic of Congo should not rely solely on oil in the future. It has more potential than that. We have more than 10 million hectares of arable land, and less than one-tenth has been developed. We have abundant water resources and abundant sunshine all year round. Thus, we place agriculture at a strategic level as a top priority of the development plan from 2022 to 2026. It covers various fields, such as fishery”, the President said.
He emphasized the importance of developing an agricultural system resilient to climate change, referencing his in-depth discussion with President Xi Jinping on reducing reliance on natural rainfall through the promotion of irrigation systems.
"I had an in-depth discussion with President Xi on how to build an agricultural system that does not rely merely on natural rainfall in this country, which has fertile land, rich water resources, and constant sunshine. Given the challenges posed by climate change, agriculture should not rely on irregular rainfall, even though water resources are abundant. For this reason, we are promoting a key agricultural development project focused on constructing irrigation systems," he said.
In early September, Nguesso visited Beijing for an official state visit to China and to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Republic of Congo should prioritize agriculture to shift from oil dependency: president
The China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala has wowed audience in China's Taiwan region with its integration of technological innovation and traditional culture, evoking strong emotional resonance.
While Chinese people around the world are celebrating the Spring Festival, the most important annual holiday which marks the start of the Chinese New Year, a cherished occasion which symbolizes family reunions and a time for renewal and new beginnings, watching the Spring Festival Gala, also known as "Chunwan", has been a cherished part of the celebrations every year in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes, with this year's edition livestreamed on Monday.
This year's Gala has not only captivated audiences on the mainland, but also garnered substantial attention from residents and media outlets in Taiwan, especially the highly-energetic humanoid robots performances.
During the Gala, a group of humanoid robots delivered an impressive martial arts display with precise movements and seamless coordination. Showcasing a unique blend of traditional martial arts and modern technology, the program left the audiences in awe.
Watching the Spring Festival Gala has long been a "New Year's tradition" for most families on the mainland, and now it is becoming increasingly popular for people across the Taiwan Strait as well.
In Taipei, Liu and Lin's family gathered together after their reunion dinner to watch the Gala through the internet. They were particularly impressed by the robot martial arts performance, which included a series of choreographed stunts and synchronized moves, including the "drunken fist" and dynamic nunchuck routines and consecutive backflips.
"I never imagined that I would see robots doing backflips and performing martial arts on the Spring Festival Gala. I was truly surprised. The revolutionary progress in robotics and technology is absolutely amazing," said Lin.
"There were some rather unique parts, especially the robot backflips, which were quite stunning. If certain details weren't executed perfectly, it would be impossible for the robots to perform such human-like movements. That's truly remarkable. This integration into the Spring Festival was incredibly impressive and unforgettable," said Liu.
A creative floral-themed song known as "He Huashen" or "Ode to the Flower Deities", has emerged as one of the works resonating the most with audiences across the island.
Lin said that this song was not only a visual feast but also a technological rebirth of traditional culture.
"I personally really love the 'He Huashen' segment, because I think it intertwines ancient poetry with virtual reality technology, presenting traditional art in contemporary context. It’s an immersive aesthetic experience of thousand-year-old poetry, making viewers feel as if they are stepping back to the grandeur of ancient Chinese literature. It's truly amazing," said Lin.
For many Taiwan residents, the most emotionally resonant part of the Gala would be the performance of a lineup of iconic Taiwan songs sang by eight well-known artists from the island.
"There's truly an unbreakable and inseparable cultural bond between the two sides of the Strait. Taiwan's singers of different generations were performing iconic Taiwan songs [at the Gala]. No matter where we are in the world, we, as Chinese people, should always keep a Chinese heart and remember that we are Chinese. Let's celebrate the Chinese New Year together and realized the Chinese dream with our joint endeavors," said Wang Bingzhong, a current affairs commentator in Taiwan.
CMG 2026 Spring Festival Gala wows Taiwan audience with blends of techs, traditional culture
