During his state visit to China, Kenyan President William Ruto toured Fujian Province between Thursday and Friday to draw developmental lessons for Africa from Chinese modernization, with a particular focus on China's poverty alleviation and clean energy development.
During his stay in Fujian, Ruto toured Fuzhou and Ningde, where he inspected local new energy technology companies and vehicles while visiting exhibitions on poverty alleviation and the 30th anniversary achievements of "3820" strategic project, gaining valuable insights into China's economic and social development.
Ruto said he believed that for Africa, which still faces severe poverty, China's successful experience in poverty alleviation and economic development is highly worth studying. The practice of Chinese modernization in Fujian, ranging from scientific and technological innovation to agricultural industrialization, left a profound impression on Ruto and his delegation.
Ruto paid a state visit to China from Tuesday to Saturday. He is the first African leader to pay a state visit to China after the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing in September 2024.
During his visit to China, bilateral relations were elevated to a China-Kenya community with a shared future for a new era, sending a clear signal to deepen China-Kenya relations, build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and promote solidarity and cooperation of the Global South.
Kenyan president visits China's Fujian to learn from Chinese modernization
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia holds the strategic initiative along the entire front lines and the goals of the country's special military operation in Ukraine will be achieved.
"The past year has been an important milestone in fulfilling the tasks of the special military operation," Putin said while addressing an expanded meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry.
Putin underscored that Russia has the capability to accelerate its offensive pace, adding that Russia's task of expanding the security buffer zone will be fulfilled, and the core goals of the operation will be realized.
"This year alone, more than 300 settlements have been liberated, including major cities that the enemy had turned into fortified strongholds equipped with long-term defensive structures," the Russian leader said.
He said that the Russian military currently holds the strategic initiative along the entire Russia-Ukraine conflict front and is defeating Ukrainian forces, including elite Ukrainian units trained in the West.
Russia is currently seeking mutually beneficial and fair cooperation with the United States and European countries, Putin said.
Putin rejected claims portraying Russia as a threat to European nations, saying that such narratives are unfounded and fabricated.
Putin also announced that several submarines and surface ships have been commissioned into the Russian Navy this year, while the "Oreshnik" missile complex will enter combat duty by the end of 2025.
Russian military holds strategic initiative along entire Russia-Ukraine conflict front: Putin
