Director General of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) Abdelrahim Suleiman has conveyed his festive greetings to the Chinese people worldwide and to China Media Group (CMG) ahead of the Spring Festival.
In a video message, Suleiman praised the robust partnership between ASBU and CMG, emphasizing their productive collaboration in program and news exchange.
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year and represents the most important holiday for Chinese people. Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The full text of his message is as follows:
On the occasion of the arrival of 2026, which coincides with the Chinese Year of the Horse, specifically the Year of the Fire Horse, it is my great pleasure to extend my sincerest congratulations and warmest wishes to all members of the Chinese people at home and abroad, to China Media Group.
May the coming year be filled with success, brilliance, and prosperity for all. I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the outstanding cooperative relationship between our union and your esteemed organization, especially in the fields of program and news exchange, with particular mention of CGTN and CCTV Video News Agency.
I am confident that in this Year of the Horse, we will forge ahead together with strength and steadfastness toward new horizons of joint work, further strengthening the bonds of friendship between our Arab peoples and the Chinese people.
ASBU chief commends CMG partnership in Chinese New Year message
African officials on Wednesday pledged to scale up investment to accelerate development across the member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at a meeting in Accra, Ghana's capital.
They made the commitment during the 24th Annual General Meeting of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), where leaders highlighted the need to expand the bank's capital base to finance transformative projects.
Ghanaian Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson stressed that timely capital payments would strengthen EBID's leverage and sustain its growth, enabling the institution to stimulate inclusive economic expansion across the region.
"Timely capital payments are critical. It strengthens EBID leverage and sustains its growth and impact across our region. Expanding our capital base is essential to strengthen our ability to finance transformative development projects and stimulate inclusive economic growth among our member states," said Forson.
EBID recorded strong achievements in 2025, with total disbursements of about 722 million U.S. dollars, up 47.7 percent from 2024. Building on that momentum, President George Agyekum Donkor said the bank remains committed to helping member states tackle poverty and close infrastructure gaps across the region.
"We aim to direct at least 63 percent of new commitments towards the private enterprises to catalyze job creation and innovation. Simultaneously, the bank would embed environmental, social and governance principles across its operations, dedicating over 41 percent of resources to climate mitigation and social inclusion projects," said Donkor.
With disbursements surging nearly 48 percent last year, EBID officials said the bank is positioned to channel more resources into private-sector growth and climate-focused projects, reinforcing its role as a driver of inclusive development across West Africa.
African officials vow stronger investment push at ECOWAS bank meeting in Accra
