TheNewsGuru

Tag: China

  • Ex-China FA President sentenced to life in prison for taking bribe

    Ex-China FA President sentenced to life in prison for taking bribe

    A former president of the China Football Association, Chen Xuyuan, has been sentenced to life in prison following an anti-corruption probe.

    A court in central Hubei province found that Chen took advantage of his various posts from 2010 to 2023, including those linked to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), to aid others in matters regarding project contracting, investment operations and sport events arrangements, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

    In return, Chen accepted money and valuables worth more than 81 million yuan ($11m).

    Chen has brought “tremendous damage” to China’s football cause; Xinhua cited the court ruling as saying.

    The severe sentence for Chen, 67, concludes a probe into high-level football officials in China in a sport that has long grappled with corruption, which fans have blamed for the perpetual underperformance of the national team.

    In the last episode of a four-part documentary series on corruption aired on national television in January, Chen said the night before he became the chairman of the CFA in 2019, he had received backpacks each containing 300,000 yuan ($41,562) from two local football officials who wanted him to “take care of them”.

    Confessions of corruption have become a common feature on national television since President Xi Jinping came to power and unleashed a sweeping anticorruption campaign that has also ensnared football.

    Xi is a self-confessed football fanatic who has said he dreams of his country hosting and winning the World Cup.

    That ambition appears further away than ever after the corruption probe and years of disappointing results on the pitch.

    National skipper Zhang Linpeng last week quit international football over the “disgrace” of a World Cup qualifying draw with Singapore, before reversing his decision.

    Other football officials probed for corruption included Chen Yongliang, former CFA executive deputy secretary-general, Liu Lei, a former director at the Wuhan Football Management Centre, Yu Hongchen, a former vice head of the CFA, and Dong Zheng, a former general manager of the Chinese Super League.

    Chen has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, Yu 13 years, and Dong eight years, according to state media.

    In 2012, former CFA chairman Xie Yalong and his successor Nan Yong were each sentenced to 10 and a half years in jail for accepting bribes in the last big football corruption dragnet in China.

    Rulings in other major corruption cases are expected to be announced later, according to state news agency Xinhua.

    Another case that sent shockwaves through the Chinese game and beyond was that of South Korean international footballer Son Jun-ho, who was detained by Chinese authorities last May. Son played for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League.

    Beijing said at the time that the World Cup midfielder was detained “on suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees”, without providing details.

    Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that he had been released and returned home.

     

     

  • Pakistan-Iran conflict: China offers mediation after strikes

    Pakistan-Iran conflict: China offers mediation after strikes

    China has offered to mediate between Iran and Pakistan amid fears of further escalation between the two sides after reciprocal strikes.

    Pakistani fighter jets targeted alleged hideouts of nationalist separatists in neighbouring Iran, a day after Iranian drones hit Islamist fighters in cross-border drone strikes.

    The exchanges between Sunni-majority Pakistan and Shiite-dominated Iran have escalated tension with regional powers China, and Russian calling on both sides to control and not let the conflict escalate further.

    Beijing proposed mediation “Iran and Pakistan are China’s close neighbours, friendly countries and countries with great influence.

    China sincerely hopes that both sides can keep calm and exercise control,” Said by Beijing Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Thursday.

    “If there is a need on both sides, we are also willing to play a constructive role in easing the situation.”

    Pakistan’s strikes killed three women and four children, according to Iran’s Irna news agency.

     

  • Two coaches to die for poisoning 7 sch children who died in China

    Two coaches to die for poisoning 7 sch children who died in China

    A Chinese Court on Monday slammed two year jail term on two kung fu coaches following their arrest last year for a 1997 poisoning that killed seven children.

    The men planted rat poison in food at a martial arts school in China’s eastern Anhui Province due to a business conflict with its boss, and then evaded prosecution for nearly 26 years.

    Defendants Fu Zejie and Zhu Zulin were each “sentenced to death for the crime of poisoning” by the Intermediate People’s Court in the city of Ma’anshan, according to an online statement.

    The court said that in “around 1994”, Zhu and another man surnamed Peng entered into a dispute while running competing martial arts schools in the area.

    Fu took up a job coaching at Peng’s facility in 1996, then “gradually became dissatisfied with Peng… due to trivial matters”, the court said.

    The two defendants then conspired to retaliate for their grudges by pouring two packets of rat poison into the food at Peng’s school on June 29, 1997.

    The next morning, more than 130 people at the school experienced vomiting and convulsions after eating their breakfast, state-run outlet China Daily reported.

    Seven students were killed by the poison.

    The two culprits were identified by authorities as suspects, but were not arrested until May 2023 — Fu in Fujian Province on the eastern coast and Zhu in southwestern Guizhou Province.

  • 5th World Media Summit kicks off in Guangdong, China

    5th World Media Summit kicks off in Guangdong, China

    The 5th World Media Summit kicked off on Saturday in the Guangdong Province of China, with about 400 delegates attending.

    Of the figure, 200 are heads of mainstream media outlets, while other participants are government officials and representatives of international organisations globally.

    This year’s Summit is focusing on “Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development”.

    It is expected that delegates will brainstorm on issues of common interests and concerns, one of which is the role of the media in promoting human development and security.

    Others are media’s response to new technological opportunities and challenges, the media new markets in the digital age and the media’s worldwide cooperation for a better future.

    In addition to the plenary session and parallel forums, delegates will have the opportunity to visit leading tech firms which started on Friday with a tour of GAC Technology Museum.

    At the GAC Technology Museum, the delegates were amazed by the array of concept vehicles, some of which will soon hit the market.

    Among such futuristic vehicles were driverless minivans and race cars powered by electricity.

    The delegates arrived the Summit venue  from across the globe  on Friday and quickly settled into business.

    Nigeria is represented at the Summit by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) and Blueprint, a privately-owned newspaper.

    NAN managing director Ali M. Ali is expected to deliver a goodwill message and a paper with the title: “Bolstering Confidence: Media’s role in Promoting Human development and security”.

    In the dynamic landscape of global media, the World Media Summit stands as a pivotal forum for fostering collaboration and addressing challenges, bringing together leaders and influencers from diverse corners of the world to engage in meaningful dialogue.

    The notion of holding the summit was first proposed by Xinhua in 2008 with the aim of facilitating exchanges among leading media groups worldwide, on the challenges posed by the emergence of the “New Media” and enhancing their win-win cooperation.

    Co-initiated by a collection of media organisations with global influence — including Xinhua News Agency, the Associated Press, Reuters, TASS Russian News Agency, the first summit, organised by Xinhua, was held in Beijing in 2009.

    With Moscow hosting the second in 2012, followed by the third in Doha, Qatar, in 2016, and Beijing in 2021 for the fourth summit via video link, the World Media Summit has demonstrated its commitment to inclusivity and a diverse representation of global media perspectives.

    From top executives and Editors-in-Chief to seasoned journalists and media scholars, as well as press officials, the Summit seeks to foster dialogue, share insights and collectively address the multifaceted challenges confronting contemporary media.

  • Insecurity: FG to collaborate with China on intelligence, technology transfer

    Insecurity: FG to collaborate with China on intelligence, technology transfer

    The Federal government has vowed to partner with the Chinese government on technology transfer, intelligence sharing and military training to curb insecurity in Nigeria.

    This was disclosed by the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru, when he received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Cui Jian Chun, on a courtesy visit at the Ship House, Abuja.

    This is contained in a statement on Wednesday by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Director, Information and Public Relations of the defence ministry.

    Badaru said that China had shown overwhelming interest to cooperate with Nigeria in the areas of technology transfer and training.

    He said Nigeria already has close working relations with Chinese companies on technology transfer and there were talks on military equipment production.

    “I was in China to attend a forum which was very successful and we had a very good discussion centered on the transfer of technology, military training and the protection of the interest of China Corporations in Nigeria,” he added.

    The defence minister assured that President Bola Tinubu was passionate about partnership with the private sector towards achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.

    According to Badaru, the President has just signed the Defence Industry Act to guide the development of Nigeria’s Defence Industry Corporation.

    “The Act provides a level playing ground for all investors,” he added, and urged the Ambassador to encourage more Chinese investors to come to Nigeria.

    “We need serious investors in steel, power and energy to help actualise our defence industry technology.”
    According to him, Nigeria is open to having investments in power, steel and defence industries, and will welcome Chinese companies to invest in the sectors.

    Earlier in his remark, the Ambassador said China has strategic interest in working with Nigeria in areas of military cooperation, economy and international affairs.

    “Nigeria has great potentials to develop new economy,” the envoy said, adding that the two countries already have investments in the area of security, education and economy.

    He also said that Nigeria has abundant natural and human resources that could support Chinese corporations based in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is a large country just like China and we are willing to build our military industries in Nigeria to support local production of military equipment,” Chun added.

    According to him, this will support the fight against insurgency and other related crimes, and boost the federal government’s employment generation drive.

  • Former Prime Minister dies at 68

    Former Prime Minister dies at 68

    Former Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, 68, died early on Friday after suffering a sudden heart attack in Shanghai, state news agency reported.

    The former premier suffered a heart attack late on Thursday and died at 12:10 am on Friday (16:10 GMT Thursday) after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

    Li had stepped down as premier in March after 10 years in office under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Li was born on July 1, 1955 in Dingyuan, in the eastern province of Anhui, the son of a functionary.

    In 1974, during the Cultural Revolution, he was forced to go to the countryside like other intellectuals.

    As one of only three per cent of all applicants who managed to gain admission, he studied law at Peking University and earned a doctorate in economics.

    Xi and Li were the favourites to succeed then-president and Chinese Communist Party leader Hu Jintao, but Xi prevailed and Li, considered a Hu protégé, had to settle for the post of prime minister.

    Li was effectively sidelined by Xi, and eventually replaced by Li Qiang in March.

    There had been rumours about Li’s health for years.

    During his visits abroad, long rest breaks always had to be built into his schedule, diplomats reported in confidential conversations.

  • China fires Defence Minister after disappearing from public view

    China fires Defence Minister after disappearing from public view

    China’s leadership has sacked Li Shangfu, the defence minister, who disappeared from public view several weeks ago, according to local media.

    Li has been removed from both his post as defence minister and his post in China’s State Council, local media reported on Tuesday.

    Li had not appeared in public since Aug. 29, when he gave a speech at a Chinese-African peace forum.

    Western media outlets later began speculating on the reasons for his disappearance, with some citing U.S. Government sources as saying there was an investigation into Li.

    The party has been tightening its grip on the army since the summer, replacing several high-ranking military officers on suspicion of corruption.

    Beijing removed then foreign minister Qin Gang from office at the end of July, replacing him with his predecessor Wang Yi.

    Qin Gang had also been out of the public eye for weeks beforehand.

    It is not uncommon in China for high-ranking officials to disappear from the public eye, often because they have become the subject of a  disciplinary investigation.

  • China agrees to refinance, complete Abuja-Kano, Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railways – Shettima

    China agrees to refinance, complete Abuja-Kano, Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railways – Shettima

    The republic of China has indicated interest in  refinancing and completing the Abuja-Kano, and Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects following a request by President Bola Tinubu.

    This was made known byChina’s President, Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing while receiving Vice President Kashim Shettima who represented Tinubu in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing Third Belt and Road Forum.

    This was disclosed in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, recalling that since the launch of the projects, China has yet to release funds for the two major railway projects in Nigeria largely due to cutbacks and commitments.

    “China had agreed to provide 85 per cent financing for the construction of the Abuja-Kano and Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects, while Nigeria which had the duty of paying the balance 15% paid its part of the funding from the inception of the project through appropriations.

    “The crucial infrastructure also termed a legacy project has the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation as the contractor named to execute the project,” he stated.

    Shettima who delivered Tinubu’s well-wishes described the rail projects as vital to the President and people of Nigeria, saying it remained a legacy project that would further open up the nation’s economy, create jobs and boost trade and investments across the country.

    He said President Tinubu remains committed to a stronger Nigeria – China tie, adding that it was laden with respect, non-political interference and mutual international cooperation.

    “Our relationship commenced about 50 years ago, precisely in 1971 and it has been upgraded to a comprehensive partnership, but we crave your indulgence, Your Excellency, to further upgrade this relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership because of the importance we attach to our relationship with China,” Shettima was quoted as saying.

    “When we met in South Africa at the China Plus 1 summit, I was very honest and upright with you. Beyond the infrastructural support we are getting; why we love, cherish and respect China is that you treat us with respect and dignity.

    “You don’t dictate to us who our friends are. We don’t forget our friends. China stood by us through thick and thin from the post-colonial struggles for independence in Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique, to the struggle for the emancipation of our people in Southern Africa; China stood shoulder to shoulder with the African continent, and we thus appreciate your friendship.”

    In the area of security, President Jinping promised a continued crackdown on terrorists, assuring categorically that China is committed to peace in the Sahel region, more so that its long-standing military training and MoUs on joint exercises remain sacrosanct.

    Responding, President Jinping said  China is committed to peace.

    “As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated recently at the last United Nations General Assembly, Africa does not need to run away. Africa holds the key to the World. We support Nigeria to play key roles in international relations and uphold allies’ commitments,” he said.

    “Mr Vice President, you spoke about upscaling and further upgrading of our strategic relationship, and I totally agree with you. Nigeria is developing with big potential. I totally agree with you. Our foreign Ambassadors can stay and work out this upgrading.”

  • Shettima to represent Tinubu at 3rd belt, road forum in China

    Shettima to represent Tinubu at 3rd belt, road forum in China

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday departed Nigeria to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 3rd Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, holding from Oct. 16 to 18.

    Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    Nkwocha said that Shettima would join world leaders from over 130 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America to deliberate on the theme, “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”

    According to him, the vice president is expected to avail Nigeria of the platform provided by the forum to woo investors for more developmental projects.

    Nkwocha added that the Vice President would hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders to promote Nigeria’s trade and investment relations in line with the economic development agenda of the Tinubu administration.

    ”The 2023 edition of the BRI will mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) championed by the President of China, Xi Jinping, as an initiative for global infrastructure development strategy.

    ”Adopted and launched by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in 2013.

    ”The initiative seeks international action to enhance cooperation and promote infrastructure investment in nearly 70 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe through land and maritime routes. ”

    He recalled that in 2018, former President, Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of Nigeria, signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreement with China.

    “Nigeria and other partner-countries across the world are to benefit from the initiative in areas of infrastructure investments such as ports, skyscrapers, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, dams and coal-fired power stations.”

    Nkwocha said that the delegation of the vice president to the forum includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu and the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali.

    Others are the Minister Of Works, David Umahi, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, and the Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Michael Ohiani.

    In a related development, Nkwocha said in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, the vice president will, from China, depart for the United States of America, USA.

    ”While in US as the special guest, Shettima will deliver a keynote address at the African Development Bank (AfDB) and World Food Prize – facilitated Norman E.Borlaug International Dialogue slated to commence on October 24th, 2023.

    ”Also, he will join other African international leaders, Heads of State and Government who in the past have delivered keynote addresses at the Borlaug Dialogue.

    ”They include former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan; World Food Prize Laureates; Ghana President, John Kufuor, AfDB President, Akinwunmi Adeshina and former President Olusegun Obasanjo and others.”

    The media aide also stated that Shettima was expected to highlight reforms being instituted in the Nigerian Agrifood sector by the Tinubu administration.

    ”The vice president will engage several stakeholders, partners and investors in opportunities for investments in Nigeria.

    ”Several meetings and engagements have been slated for the vice president who is expected to be back to the country after his commitments in the US.”