Executive Director of Latin American Information Alliance (AIL) Juan Carlos Isaza has extended warm wishes to the Chinese people ahead of the Spring Festival, which will usher in the Year of the Horse.
In a warm video greeting from Bogota, Colombia, holding a horse toy in hand, Isaza noted that the animal symbolizes energy and dynamism in the Chinese culture - qualities that aptly describe the relationship between AIL and China Media Group (CMG).
The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb 17 this year. It is one of the most important holidays in China, celebrated with family reunions and wishes for good luck in the coming year.
The full text of his message is as follows:
Hello, greetings from Bogota, Colombia. For us in the West, the new year began several weeks ago. But for you in China, it is about to begin with the start of the Spring Festival.
In Chinese culture, this new year is represented by the horse. This lovely pony in my hands symbolizes energy and dynamism. I want these two words to represent the relationship between the Latin American Information Alliance and the China Media Group.
May we continue working together, hand in hand, to unite our regions and our peoples. From here, from Bogota, I want to wish the China Media Group, our friends at CCTV Video News Agency, and our colleagues at the Spanish-language channel CGTN a happy new year.
I wish you prosperity, peace, and happiness in this new year. See you soon.
AIL Executive Director extends Chinese New Year greetings
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
