Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will pay an official visit to China from June 22 to 26 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, announced Guo Jiakun, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
"After assuming office in May, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has chosen China as his first official destination beyond the ASEAN region, which fully demonstrates the high importance he places on developing the relations between China and Singapore. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, will hold talks and meet with him, respectively. The two sides will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Singapore relations as well as on international and regional issues of common concern," said Guo.
"China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important cooperation partners. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the development of China-Singapore relations has maintained a good momentum. The leaders of the two countries established an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership in 2023, charting the cause for the development of China-Singapore relations in the new era. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore. China looks forward to further strengthening strategic communication with Singapore, deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields, jointly safeguarding multilateralism and free trade, and promoting greater development of China-Singapore relations from a new starting point through this visit, so as to make greater contributions to the development and prosperity of the region and the world," he said.
Singaporean PM Lawrence Wong to visit China: FM spokesman
The Kasubi Tombs, the powerful symbol of African heritage situated on a quiet hill overlooking Uganda's capital of Kampala and reduced to ashes in a fire 16 years ago, are coming back to life and open again to the public after restoration.
After years of rebuilding, this sacred site is now welcoming visitors and reconnecting a nation with its storied past.
Built in the 19th century as a royal palace, the tombs later became the burial ground for four kings of the Buganda Kingdom, one of the largest and oldest traditional kingdoms in East Africa.
Buganda's current king, who serves as a cultural leader of the region today, has already been back here, walking through the restored grounds and reconnecting with a place of deep historical and spiritual meaning.
After its destruction in 2010, what followed were years of careful rebuilding, using traditional materials, skills and cultural rituals passed down through generations.
"In the fire, we lost a lot. And among what we lost, we have a lot of irreplaceable artifacts, some of them we can never have them back. Things which displayed our heritage and culture, authority in the kingdom, daily tools, and items, the beautiful lantern lamp Kabaka Mutesa received from Queen Victoria of England was one of the items we lost," said Elvis Ssekibuule, a caretaker of the tombs.
Inside the main structure, culture is not just preserved, it is lived. Songs, rituals and quiet moments like these continue to connect the present with the past.
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Kasubi Tombs are more than architecture, but a living cultural space, where tradition, spirituality and identity meet and where there is a connection between the living and ancestral spirits.
In the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the heart of the Kasubi Tombs, rituals are still performed here. And for many, this remains a direct link between the living and their ancestors. From the woven grass roofs to the royal drums, which once signaled the King's presence, every detail carries meaning. And as visitors walk through the site, they are not just observing. Instead, they are stepping into a tradition that continues to this day.
"When you come inside, it feels like you release everything, just calm down, you can sit, rest, mind your thoughts, and it's very relaxing and very peaceful," said Eric Albani, a tourist.
For Uganda, the reopening is more than a cultural milestone. It is also an invitation to the world to experience a heritage that is both historic and deeply personal.
"Culture is our identity, especially here in Africa. If you don't preserve or protect your culture, then you cannot tell where you are heading. Our past we need to protect it," said Ssekibuule.
From tragedy to renewal, the Kasubi Tombs stand once again, strong, sacred and enduring. A reminder that even in the face of loss, culture can be rebuilt, and some stories are never lost.
Restored Kasubi tombs in Uganda reopen to public 16 years after fire
